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This article was provided by Jack Jones, Secretary of the Lake
Cathie Landcare Group.
So successful has the trapping of a large colony of
Indian Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
birds been in one section of Lake Cathie that Native Noisy Miners (Manorina
Melanocephala) are back in numbers. No Indian Mynas have been
sighted in that area for the past six (6) weeks.
Trapping of the birds sometimes termed “Rats of the
Sky” has been carried out by Lake Cathie Landcare under control of
supervisor, John Hunt.
The Indian Myna has been listed by the World
Conservation Union among the world’s 100 most invasive species. It
moves into nests of native birds destroying their eggs and killing
the chicks. The large nests they build rot after being vacated
making that tree unusable for our natives. They are also guilty of
killing many small mammals.
Mr Hunt said a large colony of the imported birds had
taken control in a section of the village. He added “We had the help
of a number of residents who put our traps in their yards and the
success in wiping out the colony proved the enemy can be controlled.
We always, of course, release any native birds that enter the trap
unharmed”.
He added “Of course the unwanted birds will try to
return and we are ready to deal with them when they arrive”.
Trapping is continuing in other parts of Lake Cathie. | 
