Indian myna birds declared as pest by ACT government

The declaration will allow for conservation groups to keep Indian myna numbers down in Canberra, while also banning the bird from being bred, kept, released or sold in the ACT.

Environment Minister Rebecca Vassarotti said the decision would reduce the environmental damage caused by the Indian mynas.

"We know they have significant impacts such as moving in to the habitats of native wildlife such as kookaburras and rosellas and taking over the hollows of sugar gliders," Ms Vassarotti said.

"This declaration builds on the work a range of local people have done ... to raise education and work around the humane eradication."

Indian mynas are listed among the top 100 most invasive species in the world by the International Conservation of Nature, and are largely found along the east coast of Australia.

In 2006, the Indian mynas were the third most common bird seen in Canberra, but trapping programs have led to that number falling to the 24^th most common bird in years since.

However, president of the Canberra Indian Myna Action Group Bill Handke said a reduction in the number of traps being made available to homes, along with good breeding conditions, had led to the ACT population increasing during the past three years.

"Indian mynas are the predominant pests in Sydney and Melbourne and Brisbane and all down the east coast," Mr Handke said.

"We hope that the declaration [as a prohibited pest] will give a boost to controlled activities and a large part of that will come from the development of a practical action plan that government agencies and the community can follow."

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