Invasive birds spreading avian malaria in eastern Australia

Indian Mynas threaten bird life in South East Queensland region

Date:October 20, 2015

Source:Griffith University

An invasive bird species is carrying, and potentially spreading, a high prevalence of avian malaria throughout its range in eastern Australia, a Griffith University PhD candidate has uncovered.

Nicholas Clark found that up to 40% of Indian Mynas in the South East Queensland region can carry malaria parasites. While they can't infect humans, the parasites pose a significant threat to native wildlife.

He said that because Mynas carry some malaria strains exotic to Australia, the spread of the Myna could put our native birds such as parrots, magpies and butcher birds at risk.

His discovery, which formed his thesis project while studying with the School of Environment, was published online on 19 October in the International Journal for Parasitology.

"Malaria parasites are common in Australian birds but through the use of genetic techniques I have discovered they are more diverse than originally thought," the former Gold Coast student, who now works for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries said.

Nicholas said that some of the malaria parasites found in Australia were probably introduced from other countries and are now being spread by the Myna, which was brought to Australia in the 1800s to control insect pests on crops. But today they are considered an aggressive pest that has the potential to cause significant negative impacts on biodiversity.

Read more ..

Bird plague no myna matter

Photo:  Wikipedia

JULIA Gibson never gave Indian mynas much thought until about 2000, when they began a slow invasion of her Arthurs Creek property. ''I came to notice these jolly birds as such a nuisance, mainly pooing everywhere, eating the cat food, horribly noisy. There's a pole near my clothesline and they'd sit up there and poop on my washing,'' she says.

Later she heard how mynas dispossessed native species, taking over their nests in tree hollows and tossing out their eggs and chicks. She realised many of the small birds that had been on the property when she arrived in 1998 had disappeared.

In 2009, she began fighting back. Now mynas venturing on to her 40 hectares are lured into a purpose-built wire trap with bits of dry cat food, imprisoned and humanely and legally euthanased.

She has eradicated 570 of the birds, voted in the ABC Wildwatch Australia Survey in 2005 as the nation's most significant pest and the one most needing control. She has seen native birds, from fairy wrens to rosellas and king parrots, return. She has also inspired almost 300 other like-minded environmentalists.

Mynas were introduced to Melbourne in the 1860s to combat insects in market gardens. Now, it is estimated their numbers have swelled to the millions.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/bird-plague-no-myna-matter-20120922-26dvl.html#ixzz27IxSok4c

more information on the Indian myna (common myna) (Acridotheres tristis):
http://www.indianmyna.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Myna