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Invader Bird: From Pest Control to Pesky Problem
5 Oct
Summary
- Myna bird introduced to control coconut pest in 1915.
- Introduced species aggressively competed with native birds.
- Bounty program established on Atiu Island for the myna.
In 1915, the Cook Islands introduced the common myna bird as a biological control agent to manage a pest affecting coconut palms. This introduction, however, initiated a complex ecological shift. The myna bird rapidly proliferated across multiple islands within the Cook Islands.
As their numbers grew, common mynas began to pose new challenges. They aggressively competed with native bird populations for resources. Additionally, the birds started raiding crops and encroaching upon human settlements, leading to economic and social disruption.
This transformation changed the myna's status from a beneficial species to a problematic one. The ecological and economic harm caused by the introduced birds eventually led to the implementation of control measures. On Atiu Island, a bounty program was established to reduce the myna population, with nearly 13,000 trapped by 2014.
