How to Get Rid of Miner Birds
The Indian mynah is indigenous to India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal and is considered good luck in those locations because it helps keep insects away from crops. The bird has been imported to other countries that do not consider it a blessing, including Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Fiji and Hawaii. In Australia's case, the bird has become a pest to indigenous wildlife. While there is an indigenous species called miner in Australia--and looks enough like the mynah bird that it is often mistaken for it--the Indian mynah bird is usually the one people seek help to get rid of. The mynah is known to destroy fruit and grain crops, and its smell and calls are annoying. The birds also spread disease and transmit mites to people and domestic animals. The mynah also competes with native wildlife for nesting hollows. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Rubber snakes
- Old CDs
- String
- Gutter guards
- Saw
- 2 boards the same width as your nesting box
- Hammer
- Galvanized nails
Instructions
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1
Place rubber snakes around your garden or yard. Move the snakes to a new location every day so the birds do not figure out the items are fake. The Indian mynah birds will see the snakes from above and should leave rather than come into your garden or yard.
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2
Thread string through several CDs and hang them in your trees. Mynah birds don't like the sounds or movement the CDs make in the wind, so the birds should avoid nesting or landing in any area where CDs hang.
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3
Pick up any pet food you normally keep outside and take it indoors. Indian mynah birds are known for eating leftover pet food. If you leave food out, the birds will keep coming back to eat it.
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4
Install gutter guards on your roof to block any entry points for the birds. Indian mynah birds like to build nests in the eaves. If you can't install the guards yourself, hire a professional to help.
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5
Redesign entrances to any nesting boxes you provide for other birds so there is not direct access to the openings. To do this, nail the ends of two boards together so they form a right angle. Nail the board at the top of the right angle to the top of your nesting box so there is 6 inches to 8 inches between the other board and the entrance to the nesting box. Indian mynahs will only fly directly to an entrance if they can see it, so building this anti-mynah baffle prevents them from accessing an entrance to nest there.
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6
Call your local wildlife control to see about having the Indian mynahs trapped and humanely euthanized.
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Tips & Warnings
If you find mynah nests on your roof or elsewhere, destroy them so the birds will be encouraged to move on.
It is illegal in Australia to harm many of the native bird species, so be sure you have identified your bird pest correctly.
