Kate Grarock is undertaking a PhD research project at ANU on the impact of Indian Mynas on native birds and the impact of trapping activity, with the help of volunteers from the Canberra Indian Myna Action Group (CIMAG) and Canberra Ornithologists Group (COG) members to help with some field work.
She is conducting a removal experiment in 15 Canberra suburbs to see the effect Indian Mynas have on our native species. In five suburbs she is studying the effect from the removal of a "large" number of mynas and in another five she will examine the impact of a "medium" number of mynas being removed by CIMAG trappers. In the final five suburbs, no mynas will be removed – she is asking people to defer from trapping for a period of two years.
Each of the 15 suburbs is being monitored by transect counts of all bird species present, and through the establishment of 210 nesting boxes (to monitor nesting success of both natives and mynas).
The project started in June 2008 and is planned to continue for 2 years ending in June 2010.
This project will build on existing work about the impact mynas are having on Australian native birds. It will also be of interest from a “removal experiment” standpoint, as often replication of removal experiments is extremely difficult (due to work load and time constraints). Many removal experiments only look at two or three replications per treatment, where as this experiment is aiming for five. This level of replication would not be possible without the strong support of CIMAG and Canberra Ornithologists Group (COG) volunteers.
From this project Kate hopes to answer questions on the size of area that needs to be targeted for the removal of mynas. For example, is it feasible to just concentrate on trapping one suburb at a time or do we need to focus on a much larger area. Additionally, an understanding of how mynas adapt to a reduction in numbers may hold the key to ensuring that reductions are long lasting. For example, increased nesting success in removal areas may be a problem and therefore destruction of nests may be required.
The bird surveys involve a 20 minute walk along a 1 km route, where the observer counts all birds within 50m to the left and right of the survey route. Surveys are being done every second month (Oct, Dec, Feb, Apr, June, Aug), within the first 3 hours of sunrise. Each person does 2 to 3 surveys per survey months of the same area (Oct, Dec, Feb, Apr, June, Aug), therefore 12-18 for the year.
The suburbs being surveyed are Kaleen, Fraser, Hawker, Aranda, Hackett, O'Connor, Campbell, Deakin, Red Hill, Pearce, Chapman, Bonython, Fadden, Theodore and Kambah. Surveys are in the adjoining nature reserves of these suburbs or through the urban area running at a right-angle to the nature reserve.
If you wish to get further information on the project or on how you can participate, please contact Kate at kate.grarock@anu.edu.au.
Bill Handke
Canberra Indian Myna Action Group Inc