Whitsunday Wildlife SOS

The photograph

This amazing and rare photograph was taken by 95 year old Jim Thomson who travels around Australia photographing wildlife. It was taken on a side road off Oakhampton Rd Maitland NSW. This road runs square with the Hunter River and there are a number of dead trees where the birds nest. In Jim’s words:-

“I was photographing a Kestrel when the Red-rumped grass parrot flew into a nest hole in the same tree. I switched the focus to the parrot’s nest hole to get a shot of the parrot coming out. To my surprise, close to the nest hole was the head of an Indian Myna hanging round the corner of the tree. It was there for a few minutes just watching and waiting for the parrot to come out. As the parrot emerged from the nest it followed and attacked.”

Whitsunday Wildlife SOS

The short story

I set up Whitsunday Indian Myna Action Group around 2 years ago because our native wildlife is defenceless against the aggressive and invasive feral Indian Myna bird.

We know controlling feral pests is hard, but don’t have the heart to let our beautiful birds and arboreal mammals be under constant attack. Indian Mynas don’t do diversity and we can’t watch on and do nothing as our native wildlife disappears before our eyes. By raising funds for a professional team to cull these birds on a regular basis, we can give our wildlife a chance to survive.

The long story

Where are you?

The Whitsundays is in North Queensland Australia and includes Proserpine, Airlie Beach, Bowen and Collinsville and lots of small places in between. We’re also famous as a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Hamilton Island, Hayman Island and Whitehaven Beach.

What’s wrong?

Around ten years ago this bird arrived in the Whitsundays. We believe they were blown down from Townsville by Cyclone Ita in 2014. A pair can have up to 18 chicks in an 8 month or longer breeding season, so their numbers are exploding and out of control. From a few then to thousands now. We have a small trapping programme supported by council and the community but can’t keep up.

Why are they a problem?

As they grow in numbers, they need more territory and nesting sites. By nature, they will completely dominate an area and are very aggressive. They outcompete native wildlife for food, water, nests and hollows. In groups they attack and kill local birds, their chicks and eggs.

This is happening before our eyes, especially with birds that have similar nesting needs such as rosellas, lorikeets, other parrots and owls. They also steal the hollows of arboreal (tree living) mammals such as gliders and possums.

Suitable trees for nesting and hollows are harder to find due to land clearing for a growing population so native wildlife is already under stress. To add to this, Indian Mynas are dirty and carry mites, lice and diseases which can sicken and kill native birds.

As Indian Myna numbers grow, over time our wildlife just fail to breed and disappear and this is what residents are seeing.

Why are you asking us for help?

Our local council is responsible for feral animal control. However, the budget is spent on pests that score higher in their impact on the environment, agriculture and society such as feral pigs, deer and now yellow crazy ants. State and federal government are not interested. Grants are available to groups incorporated as a legal entity which is time consuming with red tape but has no guarantee of funding.

What is the answer?

In July 2023 the management of a popular apartment complex in Airlie Beach had to eradicate an infestation of Indian Mynas which had overrun the complex. They brought in a professional team from Brisbane who had all necessary approvals and controls in place. They humanely culled around 250 birds over 3 afternoons. Bad weather prevented an even higher result.

I’m raising funds to employ professionals both locally and from Brisbane if funds permit, to cull Indian Mynas where needed and as identified by residents, business and others. We are doing this to keep their numbers low and give our native wildlife a chance to survive and thrive.