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Myna birds


rockfisherman

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Whilst in the back yard on Sunday having a chat with my neighbour over the fence, she noticed a myna bird fly into my roof space and pointed it out, I was aware they had a nest up there, but wasn't aware they carry mites.

Monday I start researching... Good lord i found some horror stories about mites infesting houses after the chicks die or leave the nest because they need a new host and they will bite humans . It takes them 7 days to reach maturity after hatching and they can multiply rapidly. That's the bad news. The good news is they can only live 3 weeks without the blood of a bird.

After much research during the day on Monday, I left work on a mission, very determined because the best was above my baby girls bed room. I found a very good mite killer at the pet shop, quickly went home, removed a couple of roof tiles ( noticing mites ) and sprayed the nest ( which is where the mites thrive with warmth and a ready supply of chick blood ) and the 2 chicks, then put the roof tiles back in giving the poison time to do its work.

I returned yesterday afternoon to remove the birds and the nest. I could hear the birds chirping as I climbed the ladder, but when I took the roof tiles off they wernt in the nest, later realising that had fallen down the cavity. I started removing the nest and was blown away by the fact I filled up a big black garbage bag with branches, rubbish and nest material, using gloves of course, with no mites in site I was quite happy.

Patched the hole in the sarking with chicken wire, put the tiles back on and filled the hole with space invader foam just to be sure.

Done and dusted.

Harry

If it's to good to be true, it usually is...

Edited by fishingphase
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Yeah they are nasty critters, both the mynas and the mites. It's amazing how quick birds can fill a cavity with rubbish. We had some nest during renovations and we filled the green bin 3 times in 5 days.

A few years ago they were talking about a huge scale cull but that seems to have gone by the wayside.

Cheers Leo

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Yeah they are nasty critters, both the mynas and the mites. It's amazing how quick birds can fill a cavity with rubbish. We had some nest during renovations and we filled the green bin 3 times in 5 days.

A few years ago they were talking about a huge scale cull but that seems to have gone by the wayside.

Cheers Leo

Whilst researching I found loads of stuff on councils wanting to trap these birds, and is on the world listing in the top 100 invasive species.

Now that I'm aware I will be very vigilant.

Harry

If it's to good to be true, it usually is...

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Had the exact problem with Mynas in the roof and the mites too a pest controller advised me to let off a couple of aerosol pest bombs in the roof the ones you turn on upright and get out of the way in a hurry.Problem solved.

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  • 2 weeks later...

G'day

Try to get the chicks out if you can, the smell rather average once they die, especially in this weather.

Cheers Leo

Hi Leo

I did stick my head in the man hole and I can smell the dead bird, but I can't smell it in the house.

I have become obsessed now. The damn myna birds are still hanging around my roof. Problem is the house is double storey and it's hard to see if they've got any other spots. So off to bunnings, bought a HEAP of galvanised gutter guard which I'm modifying to prevent (as much as humanly possible) these little suckers getting in. Have only done a small stretch, takes a bit of time. Will post pictures next time I get up on the extention ladder.

Next step will be to get one of those myna bird traps and start doing the community a favour.

Harry

If it's to good to be true, it usually is...

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  • 3 weeks later...

In reference to home made traps. I made one and it failed. Caught two birds and one was a chick. Didn't have the heart to kill the chick, plus I got torn to pieces by the adults swooping. How did you construct yours?

Cheers

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Google Pee Gee Myna trap. I made mine some councils have them for hire. The plastic bucket in the pic is just sitting on top after all they need some shade before they meet their maker!

Tips.

Be patient it takes a a while for them to get comfortable to go in there.

It pays to even leave the doors open for a few days so they expect an easy feed in there.

I started with dog food but did just as well with Nutri grain. Just set a trail from outside the opening.

Set the trap of a night and stay away. If the birds are trapped remove them of a night. They are smart and watch what's going on of a day.

Once you get one it's friends follows. Like Mullet!

The good thing with these traps it's design targets Indian Mynas nothing else seems to enter.

There is a heap of info on the web about these. Especially north coast councils.

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Yep, good to get rid of the Mynas ASAP. The mite they carry (bird mite) is often mis-diagnosed as scabies because the signs and symptoms are lmost identical. If you are afflicted by bird mite (or scabies for that matter) see your doctor for a prescription of either Lyclear (a lotion), or Ascabiol ( also a lotion but can be mixed with bath water so you basically give yourself a dip). Apply as directed and don't worry if the itching persists for a few days after. This is normal.

Now if that doesn't motivate you, dear reader, you are one heck of a laid back individual.

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Bird lice, whilst a pest, cannot survive on mammalian blood. There is a distinct difference between avian and mammalian blood that is queue to the lives survival. This is according to my vet when I enquired if or pets could be carrying them.

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Dog biscuits soaked in sleep tablets work well dont tell neighbours as they sometimes drop mid flight. Slingshot is good fun to but they are pretty smart birds and stay clear after a while

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk

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Bird lice, whilst a pest, cannot survive on mammalian blood. There is a distinct difference between avian and mammalian blood that is queue to the lives survival. This is according to my vet when I enquired if or pets could be carrying them.

Yes that is correct, they can only survive and reproduce whilst there is a source of bird blood and will die after 3 weeks with out it.

Harry

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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Yes that is correct, they can only survive and reproduce whilst there is a source of bird blood and will die after 3 weeks with out it.

Harry

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Tell that to the dementia residents I look after, Harry. Poor buggers. Because we have to act quickly when there is a suspected case of scabies, we never wait long enough to see if it is bird lice. Anyway, who needs either. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depends if your hapless victim or not), the topical treatment is the same. And so is the recovery time.

We have a pretty good pest control team in the retirement village, so as soon as there's a report of possible birds nesting under the roofs, the guys are onto it.

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