The humble Sparrow is not an Australian native bird. Like many other birds and animals, it was imported from England by the early settlers, no doubt hoping to introduce a little cheer from home.
The Sparrow lived peacefully alongside the existing birds of Australia and in time became a very welcome migrant in our gardens. It is distressing to find that they are now rare - and with them the vast assortment of small birds that lent colour to our gardens.
Ever growing gangs of Indian Mynah birds are changing the bird scene in Australia. This import is aggressive and attacks other birds, destroys their nests and has no concept of sharing territory. In many suburbs, all other forms of birdlife have disappeared.
Indian Mynah birds have been declared noxious pests, but there is little action being taken to curb their numbers. If this continues, we face the prospect of species loss - as has happened to many other species of Australian animals since the arrival of European settlers here.
Tomorrow may be too late. What we need - and need on a most urgent basis - is a trapping programme to reduce the numbers of Indian Mynah birds present in our suburbs, followed by council action to destroy their eggs and nests to eliminate future generations.
It is unlikely that this will fully succeed, but at least a reduction in numbers will give the native bird population hope of survival.
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