A flock of Rainbow Parakeets have been living in the trees in Henley Park, Enfield for some time and it’s wonderful to see native Australian birds in native trees and no Indian Mynahs.\

Australian wildlife protection organisation, WIRES say that unlike the Noisy Miner, Indian Mynah birds are scavengers in urban parks, gardens and streets and will eat almost anything surviving well on garbage, scraps, vegetable matter, other birds eggs and even eating young hatchlings and small fledgling birds.

“Indian Mynahs follow humans rather than natural vegetation and seasons and are aggressive in their behaviour and with their numbers growing they are taking over the nesting sites, feeding grounds and airways attacking, displacing and sometimes killing not only our native birds but also small mammals and bats too,” the WIRES website advises.

Top tips to keep away Indian Mynahs

* Cover or keep a lid on garbage at all times and keep your garden, streets and urban areas free of rubbish. * Plant Australia Native trees, flowering shrubs and bushes then you will attract our native birds to your garden and they will keep these feral birds away. Noisy Miners, Lorikeets and many other birds who feed on and nest in our native flora will dominate the area. * Call your local council and let then know if your area is now getting Indian Mynahs. * Do not leave pet food when Inidan Kynahs could eat it.

A WIRES spokesperson said that cruelty is not the answer.

“Whist these birds are an introduced pest to Australia, we do ask that Indian Mynahs not be cruelly treated,” the spokesperson said.

Further information is available on the Lismore Local Government site: www.lismore.nsw.gov.au/content/uploads/Indian_Mynafinal.pdf