Common hill myna

The common hill myna (lat. Gracula religiosa) is a member of the Sturnidae family. While widely kept as a cage bird due to its vocal abilities, in its native and introduced ranges, this species is frequently considered a nuisance pest in agriculture, known for its significant impact on fruit production and grain yields.

The diet of the common hill myna primarily consists of fruits, nectar, and various seeds. In agricultural settings, they cause substantial damage by consuming and damaging ripening crops. Major targets include papaya, mango, banana, and various grape varieties, as well as cereal crops such as corn and rice, where they often devastate large portions of the field during the ripening stage.

The biology of this species is characterized by its high intelligence and arboreal nature. They build nests in tree cavities and often form large foraging flocks. Their social behavior and high adaptability allow them to quickly identify and exploit available food sources, leading to rapid colonization of agricultural lands and increasing the pressure on local growers during harvest seasons.

The damage caused by these birds is twofold: direct consumption of produce and physical destruction of remaining crops. By pecking into the skin of fruits, they leave the produce vulnerable to secondary infections from fungi and bacteria, which can lead to mass decay and rot in orchards, rendering entire harvests unsuitable for commercial use.

Implementing effective protection measures is crucial for mitigating losses:

• Installation of bird-proof netting over high-value orchards and gardens.
• Deployment of bio-acoustic deterrents that broadcast distress calls to warn off flocks.
• Use of visual deterrents like predatory bird kites and holographic reflecting tapes.
• Pruning of trees near power lines and fields to reduce nesting habitats.
• Implementing integrated pest management practices to discourage bird foraging.