Residents across Australia's East Coast are being called on by a Queensland man to help trap an invasive bird species that has engaged in an aggressive territorial takeover. The bird has the potential to spread avian malaria, as well as damage fruit, vegetable and cereal crops, reports abc.net.au.
Often described as "flying rats", or the "cane toads of the sky", the Indian myna is considered one of world's 100 most invasive species.
Fraser Coast Wildlife Preservation Society member, John Williams, said we have every reason to be concerned about the threat posed to native species by the Indian Myna.
"From one breeding pair, within five years they have the potential for reaching nearly 13,000 birds, that's how quickly their population grows," Mr Williams said.
"Once they've reached a critical mass then their expansion is just an explosion, all of a sudden you'll see them everywhere, there won't be any other birds.''
In the 1860s the Indian myna was deliberately introduced into Melbourne's market gardens to keep down insects.
