There are over 100 bird species from Australia and New Zealand
that can cause significant losses to fruit, nut, grain, rice and
aquaculture industries. The worst invaders in economic terms
are starlings, which cause serious damage to stone and pome fruit,
grape, olive, tropical fruit and berry crops in in all states,
except the Northern Territory. Other serious introduced pests
for horticulture are European blackbirds, sparrows and the Indian
Myna.
Native species can also be a problem, with silvereyes the worst
offender. Some honeyeaters and several psittacine (corellas,
cockatoos, galahs and rosellas), crows and ravens also damage crops
(Tracey, Bomford, Hart, Saunders & Sinclair 2007). With
few exceptions, native birds are protected by law.
Invasive birds also create conflicts in urban areas, damage
infrastructure, reduce aesthetic values, and pose risks to the
environment and to human health. Recent survey data suggest
that the Indian Myna is perceived as one of the top 'worst pests'
in the country because of its ubiquity, displacement of
native birds in people's gardens and woodland and the fouling it
causes to pet food, water and infrastructure.
Information on mynas and how to trap them can be obtained from the
Canberra Indian Myna Action Group (CIMAG) http://www.indianmynaaction.org.au
Another issue of concern to the public is the potential for an
avian influenza outbreak. There is no evidence that 'bird
flu' is affecting birds or humans in Australia at the present
time. However, there is the possibility that the
dangerous H5N1 strain could enter the country through illegal
importations of birds and their products or through contaminated
visitors. Another potential source is from migratory
wild birds - ducks and geese are recognised vectors of the
disease. Australian ducks and geese are not migratory and the
risk is therefore considered low. We are, however, visited by
a wide variety of migratory shorebirds, many of which pass through
Asia.
Given the increasing virulency of the H5N1 strain overseas, and the
lack of data on the incidence of avian influenza in our migratory
shorebird populations, researchers at the New South Wales
Department of Primary Industries, with support from the CRC, are
attempting to develop more systematic surveying procedures and
collage data on avian influenza incidence and strain type in our
wild bird populations. <more about avian
influenza>
What are we doing?
