Myna

The Myna (lat. Gracula, family Sturnidae) is a genus of passerine birds. While they are often observed for their vocal abilities, in agricultural landscapes, they are classified as significant pests due to their highly social nature and their tendency to feed aggressively on cultivated crops, leading to substantial economic loss.

These birds are known to target a wide variety of fruit and berry crops. Vineyards, cherry orchards, and stone fruit farms are particularly vulnerable to their feeding habits. Additionally, in regions where they have become invasive, they cause damage to cereal and maize crops by foraging on emerging seedlings and ripening grains.

Regarding their biology, Mynas are highly opportunistic and adaptable. They nest in cavities, including man-made structures, which allows them to thrive near human agricultural activity. Their breeding cycle is fast, with multiple broods per season, ensuring that once a population is established, it is very difficult to eradicate.

The severity of the damage is two-fold: direct consumption and crop contamination. By pecking into fruits, they expose the flesh to insects and fungal pathogens, causing rapid decay. Their large foraging flocks can devastate a harvest in a very short period of time, often making the remaining fruit unmarketable.

Integrated pest management (IPM) for Mynas includes:

• Exclusion using high-quality anti-bird netting for commercial orchards.
• Deployment of bio-acoustic systems that play distress calls to deter flocks.
• Use of visual deterrents such as holographic tapes and effigies of predators.
• Good orchard hygiene, such as promptly harvesting ripe fruit and clearing fallen debris that attracts foraging birds.