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The common myna bird (Acridotheres tristis Linnaeus, 1766) is widely recognized as one of the most formidable invasive avian species globally. The bird poses significant challenges due to its ability to outcompete a variety of native cavity-nesting birds. Additionally, the common myna is a notable agricultural pest and a substantial threat to indigenous biodiversity. The current study is focused on understanding the distribution pattern of the common myna (Acridotheres tristis Linnaeus, 1766) in Egypt and the significant favorable conditions to predict the invasion scale of the bird to the Egyptian fauna. To determine the environmental variables influencing the invasion range of the common myna in Egypt, a Species Distribution Model (SDM) was employed. The current work documented 117 invasion sites of the species from February to December 2023. The predicted habitats are mainly concentrated close to the Nile Delta of Egypt, the Suez Canal region, North and South Sinai, in addition to scattered areas on the Red Sea coast, along the riverbanks of Upper Egypt, in addition to a few northwestern areas of the Western Desert. The most significant environmental factors affecting the establishment were the Minimum Temperature of the Coldest Month, the Mean Temperature of the Coldest Quarter, and Elevation. The current invaded areas comprise about 0.8% of Egypt (8240 km2 out of roughly one million km2). We found that this is significant and of concern due to the expectation of increasingly favourable conditions due to global warming; this will turn this invasive species into a real threat to Egyptian ecosystems due to its aggressive competition with native cavity-nesting birds, its impact as an agricultural pest, and its potential to disrupt local biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) is a frequently observed flocking bird of urban habitats. This paper presents opportunistic observations of two bald Common Mynas from distinct locations in Kerala. While bald Common Mynas have been documented in various regions of India, this paper discusses the first occurrences reported in Kerala. Notably, one of the mynas under investigation in this study is a tamed, free-living bird.

Avian brood parasites depend upon locating host nests to lay their eggs. However, how brood parasites locate host nests and select the nests for parasitism remains poorly studied. Here, we examined how a non‐evicting brood parasite, the Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) were able to locate host nests in locally novel nest sites. We provided a set of novel nest sites (i.e., nestboxes, n = 100) to the common myna (Acridotheres tristis), a regular host of the Asian koel, at a field site in Central Bangladesh. We found that common myna quickly utilized the novel breeding sites (n = 99 nests across 59 boxes) and similarly, 21.2% of these nests were parasitized by the Asian koel. Unsurprisingly, none of the inactive nest boxes were parasitized, neither were empty nests of common myna (i.e., either predated or fledged clutches, thus lack of parental activity, n = 83). Our results provide an experimental demonstration of the Asian koel ability to rapidly locate nests in locally novel nest sites, potentially facilitated by close monitoring of host activity and behavior around the nest site. However, the underlying mechanisms for this rapid adjustment to novel nest sites remain unresolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to analyze the nesting success and nest building behavior of myna, Acridotheres tristis, using paper/plastic Myna in artificial nest. The boxes were placed at different sites, including University Town, Rahat Abad and Qadir Abad in Peshawar City, Pakistan. The artificial nests were designed 56 × 22 cm and 21 × 16 cm in dimension with respective opening of 8 cm and 7 cm. Total number of artificial nests were 55, therein, number of successful next recorded 42 and unsuccessful 13. Artificial nests were installed in breeding season of common myna. Total nesting success was 85.71 in March-April; 68.18 in May-June and 78.94 in July-August 2022. Nest losses were recorded during six months (March to August). Total success rate (%) was 76.36% and the mean (± SD) number of plastic collected as nesting material per day was 18.8 ± 3.12.

Simple Summary: We aimed to investigate how an invasive cavity-breeding bird, the common (Indian) myna, and a native nest predator, the common brushtail possum, influence urban nest box use by native birds in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. We quantified nest box use by invasive and native species, assessed nesting success and failure rates, and explored what environmental factors might influence nest box occupancy and nesting success. We found that the native possums were the most common nest box users and that possum occupancy of boxes was associated with higher rates of nesting failures by all bird species. More common myna nesting attempts were observed in areas where mynas have been established longer. We found no evidence of a significant negative impact by the common myna on other birds in our study locations, which may be partly due to the low rates of use of our nest boxes by native birds. Nevertheless, better nest box design and guidelines for setting them up are needed if we aim to provide more nesting opportunities for native birds to replace the decline in big old cavity trees. Many bird species in Australia require tree hollows for breeding. However, assessing the benefits of urban nest boxes to native birds requires frequent monitoring that allows to assess nesting success. To better understand the benefits of nest boxes for native birds, we examined the impact of local habitat characteristics, invasive species (common myna, Acridotheres tristis), and native mammalian predators on urban nest box use and nesting success of native birds. We installed 216 nest boxes across nine locations in southeastern Australia (S.E. Queensland and northern New South Wales) in both long-invaded sites (invaded before 1970) and more recently invaded sites (after 1990). We monitored all boxes weekly over two breeding seasons. We recorded seven bird species and three mammal species using the nest boxes. Weekly box occupancy by all species averaged 8% of all boxes, with the species most frequently recorded in the nest boxes being the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), a native cavity user and nest predator. We recorded 137 nesting attempts in the boxes across all bird species. The most frequent nesting species were the invasive alien common mynas (72 nesting attempts). We recorded an average nesting failure rate of 53.3% for all bird species. We did not record any common mynas evicting other nesting birds, and found that several native species used the same box after the common myna completed its nesting. We recorded native possums in 92% of the boxes, and possum occupancy of boxes per site was negatively correlated with bird nesting success (p = 0.021). These results suggest that when boxes are accessible to invasive species and native predators, they are unlikely to significantly improve nesting opportunities for native birds. To ensure efficient use of limited conservation resources, nest boxes should be designed to target species of high conservation importance and limit other species of both predators and competitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to analyze the nesting success and nest building behavior of myna, Acridotheres tristis, using paper/plastic Myna in artificial nest. The boxes were placed at different sites, including University Town, Rahat Abad and Qadir Abad in Peshawar City, Pakistan. The artificial nests were designed 56 × 22 cm and 21 × 16 cm in dimension with respective opening of 8 cm and 7 cm. Total number of artificial nests were 55, therein, number of successful next recorded 42 and unsuccessful 13. Artificial nests were installed in breeding season of common myna. Total nesting success was 85.71 in March-April; 68.18 in May-June and 78.94 in July-August 2022. Nest losses were recorded during six months (March to August). Total success rate (%) was 76.36% and the mean (± SD) number of plastic collected as nesting material per day was 18.8 ± 3.12. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds are known to act as the parasite reservoir and can transmit them to other organisms through food chains. This study aims to report the molecular prevalence and phylogenetic evaluation of various blood borne pathogens (Toxoplasma gondii, Isospora spp., Plasmodium spp., Haemoproteus spp., Leucocytozoan spp. and Neospora caninum) in blood samples of common Myna (Acridotheres tristis : N = 80) collected from four region (Jhang, Khanewal, Multan and Muzaffargarh) in Punjab Pakistan. Effect of pathogens on the complete blood count of the host was also determined. Results revealed by 2/80 Myna (2.5 %) amplified ITS-1 gene of Toxoplasma (T.) gondii (confirmed by DNA sequencing) while 2/80 (2.5 %) birds amplified 18S rDNA gene and Isospora spp. Phylogenetic analysis of both pathogens showed that Pakistani isolates were clustered together and were closely related to isolates that were reported from worldwide countries. Risk factor analysis revealed that prevalence of both pathogens was not restricted to a particular sampling site or a particular bird sex (P > 0.05). T. gondii infected birds had elevated red cell distribution width while Isospora sp. infected birds had elevated % monocytes and platelet distribution width while decreased mean cell hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and platelets hematocrit than their respective uninfected birds. In conclusion, we are reporting the presence of T. gondii and Isospora sp. among Pakistani common Myna that had disturbed the complete blood count parameters that may have affected their normal physiology. • First report from Pakistan about the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Isospora spp. in Acridotheres tristis. • 2.5% Myna were T. gondii and 2.5% were Isospora spp. infected. • Parasite prevalence of each parasite was not limited to any specific site or bird sex. • T. gondii infected birds had elevated red cell distribution width. • Isospora sp. infected birds had hemoglobin and associated parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Common Myna Acridotheres tristis is considered to be among the world's most damaging invasive species through disturbance, predation, competition pathogen introduction to native birds and other taxa. Claimed impacts on native birds have often been based on anecdotal reports. More substantive evidence of interference with small-island endemic birds has been reported, but impacts have rarely been quantified or subjected to experimental manipulation. On Denis Island (Seychelles), up to 10% of Seychelles Warblers Acrocephalus sechellensis, and small numbers of Seychelles Fodies Foudia sechellesis and Seychelles Paradise Flycatchers Terpsiphone corvina had head injuries following myna attacks, stimulating an eradication of the mynas. Populations of four species of Seychelles' endemic birds, introduced to the island to establish insurance populations, were estimated before, during and after the completion of the eradication, permitting assessment of the impact of myna removal on populations of the endemics. Numbers of all four endemics increased following introduction, but increases in the numbers of Seychelles Magpie Robins Copsychus sechellensis and Seychelles Paradise Flycatchers accelerated after >90% of the mynas had been removed. All endemic populations continued to increase during and after completion of the eradication in 2015, and injuries to Seychelles Warblers, Seychelles Fodies, and Seychelles Paradise Flycatchers ceased. Habitat management within a designated conservation zone on the island, into which the endemics were released and subsequently spread to occupy most of the island, also contributed to the endemic birds' global populations and to their improved conservation status. This study confirms that mynas negatively impact small island populations of endemic birds and suggests that their potential impact has been underestimated. Myna eradication should be considered vital before endangered endemic birds and other taxa susceptible to their negative impacts are translocated to small islands for conservation reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common myna (Acridotheres tristis) is a passerine bird native to south-east Asia, established as an alien in many parts of the world including South Africa, where it is invasive. Common mynas are synanthropic birds with a strong preference for urban areas that usually do not expand into natural areas. However, as we document here, since the first records in Kruger National Park in 2000 when the birds started to spread from outside the park, the rate of spread has recently dramatically increased, with last three years accounting for 66% of the total number of 128 sightings. Thirty-two birds were observed to be nesting or breeding. This data suggests that the common myna in Kruger National Park is in the initial phase of establishment. Although the impacts on native birds at a population level are unlikely to be severe in a large natural savanna area with little human influence, the species is scored as having moderate impact in the EICAT IUCN scheme. Thus, we suggest that the population of common myna needs to be monitored and controlled to prevent it from further increase and spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic pollutants make an important category of environmental contaminants owing to their capability for bioaccumulation and biomagnification in the living systems. The methods employed for determining their concentrations in the living bodies may be invasive or non-invasive and their outcomes have often been questioned regarding their representativeness of the true exposure to the contaminants. The current study was hence designed to compare the outcomes both invasive and non-invasive methods used for exposure assessment of metallic pollutants in living beings. For this purpose, two common avian species bank myna (Acridotheres ginginianus), and common myna (Acridotheres tristis) were selected due to their high abundance in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Trace metals’ concentrations were detected in their liver, blood and feathers; former two being invasive methods while the latter approach to be non-invasive one. However a poor correlation was found among metallic pollutants in all three organs with lowest concentrations reported from the blood samples. The association between the trace metal concentrations in all organs was also non-significant. It can hence be concluded that no single organ can be a true representative of environmental exposure to metallic pollutants and combined approaches need to be investigated for determining extent of contamination in living bodies.

Despite posing a serious threat to global biodiversity, national and international management efforts have not been able to limit the spread of most invasive species. In highly dispersive species, local invasions may be followed by regional range expansion that crosses international borders. In such cases, independent management efforts of the invading population may be futile unless international collaboration is practiced.We focus on the ongoing human‐mediated invasion of the common myna Acridotheres tristis into the Mediterranean basin, a region rich in overall numbers of species and endemic species, where common mynas have been introduced into a handful of countries. Some introductions were followed by subsequent range expansions into neighbouring countries. This species poses major threats to the biodiversity of the Mediterranean which is already susceptible to biodiversity loss as the result of ongoing land use and climate changes. Without action, this species and possibly others similar to it, could have severe consequences for native ecosystems.Policy implications. Given the regional scope of its invasion in the Mediterranean basin, common myna management requires an international collaboration to successfully prevent additional introductions and range expansions and to avoid accelerating threats to Mediterranean biodiversity, already at risk as a result of ongoing changes in land use and climate. We argue that international reciprocal transfer of information and the development of regional mitigation are essential for the successful management of the invasion of the common myna and other species into the Mediterranean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans prey on animals with often dramatic effects on abundances, but also alterations to the phenotypical composition of prey populations. Instances of lethal management provide an opportunity to explore proximate mechanisms of phenotypical change. While there is evidence from exploitative predation (e.g. fisheries) that prey can change via evolutionary mechanisms, we present one of the first studies to explore this effect in an invasive vertebrate species that is being lethally controlled. Using an avian species that is known to be changing its behaviour in areas where it is heavily trapped, this study explored whether trapping of specific behavioural phenotypes might underpin observed changes. The behaviour of common mynas, Acridotheres tristis , captured using a large walk-in baited trap was compared with that of mynas captured using a cryptic whoosh net. All tests revealed significant inter-individual variation in ecologically meaningful aspects of myna temperament. Contrary to our predictions, however, we found no evidence that mynas captured in traps were more exploratory, more sociable, less fearful or better problem-solvers than those captured with the cryptic net. We present various interpretations of this finding, including the possibility learning might underpin behavioural changes in free-ranging mynas from heavily trapped populations, complemented by some selection against sociability and low fearfulness. As such, our findings and their interpretation will serve to guide future research on prey responses to human predation and inform animal management practices. • Animal populations change when predated upon by humans. • Invasive common mynas are known to change behaviour where they are trapped. • There was no evidence that trapping only captures more exploratory and social birds. • Trapping may not exert a selective evolutionary pressure on myna behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endemic island species are of conservation interest as unique taxa, often with restricted populations, but many are data poor. The Mangaia kingfisher Todiramphus ruficollaris, known locally as the tanga'eo, is endemic to the island of Mangaia in the Cook Islands, and categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The population size has not been estimated since 1996, despite concerns over habitat loss and competition with an invasive species, the common myna Acridotheres tristis. We provide new population estimates for both the tanga'eo and the common myna, using the same methodology as previous estimates. During December 2018–February 2019 we surveyed with distance sampling along 73 line transects walked across the six habitat types on Mangaia. We estimate there are 4,106 tanga'eo on Mangaia (95% CI 3,191–5,283), a dramatic 7–8 fold increase compared to the previous estimate of 393–764. We estimate there are 13,350 common myna (95% CI 10,998–16,206), a slight increase, although densities in the two most favoured habitats for myna have declined. There is no evidence that the common myna poses a threat to the viability of the tanga'eo population, as the latter has increased despite a much larger population of common myna. Presumed declines in the tanga'eo population in the past were probably a result of habitat loss as a result of the cultivation of pineapples Ananas comosus for export, an industry that collapsed in the 1980s. We recommend a review of the IUCN Red List status of the tanga'eo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although invasive non‐native species can adversely affect biodiversity in many ways, predation of native species by non‐native species on islands can be severely damaging. Results of numerous studies document non‐native birds preying on birds on islands, but our understanding of the number and type of species affected has been limited by the lack of a global review of these impacts. I identified the non‐native bird species that have been recorded preying on birds, the locations where this predation occurred, and the bird species affected. Because the impacts of non‐native birds can be particularly severe on small islands, I then identified the islands <500 km2 around the world that are occupied by predatory non‐native birds. By taking into account their life‐history traits and predation history, I also identified the near‐threatened and threatened bird species on these islands that they may prey on. The results indicated that predation by non‐native birds was primarily a concern for threatened bird conservation on small islands; almost all predation impacts (91%) on near‐threatened and threatened birds were recorded on islands, and median island size was 106 km2. I also found non‐native bird predation was a poorly known and widespread potential threat to avian biodiversity; worldwide, 194 islands of <500 km2 were occupied by predatory non‐native birds, but information on their impacts was unavailable for most of these islands. On them, where the impacts of non‐native species can be severe, non‐native birds may be preying on approximately 6% of the world's near‐threatened and threatened bird species. Four non‐native bird species I identified have been successfully eradicated from islands. If they were eradicated from the small islands they occupy, 70% of the near‐threatened and threatened bird species I identified would no longer be affected by nest predation by non‐native birds on small islands. Article impact statement: On small islands, non‐native birds may be preying on approximately 6% of the world's near‐threatened and threatened bird species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common myna is an invasive species in Florida, Hawaii, and in numerous other locations around the world. It is native to southern and south-east Asia. Common mynas are considered pests to fruit crops in many locales, and they are predators on eggs of other birds. Since their introduction to American Samoa in the 1980s, mynas have become the most frequently observed avifauna in developed areas in the country. The American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR) is concerned that expanding myna populations will exert competitive pressures on native species such as the Samoan starling and white-collared kingfisher. Additionally, the mynas are increasingly becoming social nuisances through nesting, foraging, and vocalization behaviors. The government and general population of American Samoa would like to eradicate these birds before populations are too large to control. In partnership with DMWR, we conducted trials with captive mynas to determine sensitivity to the avian toxicant DRC-1339, and to evaluate a potential baiting strategy for applying this toxicant on American Samoa to reduce myna populations.

Invasive species present an opportunity to test the association between selective forces and adaptive morphological traits because these species can experience rapid changes when introduced to new environments. One such invader is the common myna (Acridotheres tristis), a broadly ranging avian species that has been introduced on most continents and many oceanic islands. Here, we studied morphological variability in native and introduced populations of common mynas to identify the key environmental variables correlated with local phenotypic variation during biological invasions. In particular, we aimed to determine whether similar selective pressures acted on populations in the native range and the introduced ranges, and whether the same factors shaped morphological variation in different introduced populations. We recorded eight morphological measurements from 1,331 individuals across sites throughout most of the common myna's range, as well as climatic, topographic and anthropogenic environmental data, sex and age of individuals, and years since local introduction. We found inconsistent signals of morphological adaptation in the native population, representing different patterns between females and males. Conversely, urbanization was a significant explanatory factor of phenotypic shifts in introduced populations, especially with regards to foraging-related traits. Moreover, we found that adaptation occurred differently across two focal introduced populations (Sydney, Australia and Israel). Therefore, caution is required in studies relating to evolutionary adaptations and predictions made regarding characteristics of invasive populations within a limited range of their introduced ranges. Our results also indicate a major role for urbanization in impacting the shape and size of foraging-related features in this broadly-distributed invasive species, emphasizing the impact of human-induced environmental changes upon the trajectories of biological invasions and, ultimately, their effects on native biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals emit predator-elicited calls in response to potential predation threats. These vocalizations induce a variety of anti-predator behaviors in conspecific receivers ranging from moving away from predators (alarm calls) to rallying conspecifics to fend them off (mobbing calls). While much is known about the immediate response to alarm calls, less is known about how mobbing calls influence subsequent antipredator decisions. Mobbing calls stimulate harassment of a potential predator. Therefore we predicted that hearing a mobbing call would make animals less likely to immediately flee an approaching threat. To study the potential effect of mobbing vocalizations on risk assessment, we primed common mynas (Acridotheres tristis) with a series of different stimuli and studied the variation in their subsequent decisions to flee an approaching human by quantifying flight initiation distance (FID). We found that although mynas increased their rate of locomotion after hearing mobbing calls, their subsequent decision to flee was not influenced. We also found that an individual's propensity to move and look explained some variation in FID. This suggests that while mobbing calls do not influence subsequent decisions to flee, they do affect subsequent behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interaction networks among native and invasive species in a community can inform both invasion impacts and applied management of invasive species. The intensity of aggressive interactions may be related to the overlap in species' ecological niche and functional traits, especially in cavity‐breeding species, that often compete for limited nesting sites. Australia is home to over 100 native and introduced cavity‐nesting species, including several invasive species that are widespread globally, such as the common myna Acridotheres tristis. Here, we aimed to test the extent to which shared functional traits inform the intensity of aggression between cavity‐nesting birds.We quantified the outcomes of aggressive interactions between birds in large hollow‐bearing trees in SE Queensland, Australia. We examined whether more similarly sized birds interacted more frequently, whether larger species won aggressive interactions more often, and whether cavity‐breeding species with similar preferences for nesting sites (breeding‐niche space) interacted more frequently.We recorded a total of 410 aggressive interactions and 48 interacting bird species around tree hollows, including 20 cavity‐nesting bird species. These interactions were dominated by the invasive common myna, the native noisy miner (a non‐cavity‐breeder) and the native rainbow lorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus, but the common myna won the largest total number of interspecific interactions. On average, larger birds won aggressive interactions more frequently, yet there were some important exceptions to this finding; the common myna (113 ± 30 g) won 26 of the 29 interactions against the larger native rainbow lorikeet (126 ± 44 g). Importantly, species with more similar nest‐site preferences were observed aggressively interacting more frequently.Synthesis and applications. The impact of the invasive common myna was higher‐site preferences. Control efforts for the myna should focus on birds that nest in natural tree hollows. An analysis of shared traits by managers could be used to help identify how many local species would benefit from common myna control in a given area and test if further behavioural studies of common myna are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roads have numerous direct and indirect ecological impacts on wildlife. Roads constitute an extensive and integral part of our environment. Collisions with vehicles kill a large number of birds every year. The present study was carried out from January 2016 to December 2016. The data was collected from Nehru Memorial College to Pavithram Lake of Thuraiyur to Namakkal road of Musiri Taluk, Tiruchchirappalli District. During this study, we recorded a total of 64 birds belonging to 12 species killed due to vehicular traffic. A maximum of 11 birds were killed in the months of January and October, and a minimum of two bird kills were observed in the months of September and December. Of the 64 birds, the roadside mortality was observed to the tune of 25%, 20.3%, 14%, 12.5%, 10.9%, 4.6%, and 4.6% for Southern Coucal Centropus parroti, Common Myna Acridotheres tristis, House Crow Corvus splendens, Spotted Owlet Athene brama, Indian Jungle Crow Corvus culminatus, Yellowbilled Babbler Turdoides affinis, and Large Grey Babbler Turdoides malcolmi. Other birds such as Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus, Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis, Shikra Accipiter badius, Whitebreasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus, and White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus accounted for 1.5% mortality. Suggestive measures to prevent wildlife loss due to vehicular traffic are presented in this communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Certain behavioural traits, including innovation and reduced neophobia, may facilitate successful invasions by allowing first arrivals to overcome the challenges of a novel environment. However, the extent to which these traits occur in invasive populations in comparison with native populations, and whether these traits' prevalence remains consistent throughout a species' introduced range, have been scarcely investigated. We tested whether object neophobia, food neophobia and two levels of motor innovation in the common myna, Acridotheres tristis , a widespread avian invader, in its native range (India) as well as across an invasive range (Israel), are more prevalent at the edge of the invasion front relative to its centre and to the native ranges. We found that individuals from the invasion front were more innovative and more tolerant of novel food than those from both nonfront invasive populations and the native range. Moreover, these traits showed a gradual loss within the invasive population with increasing time since population establishment. Our results provide crucial empirical evidence to support the adaptive flexibility hypothesis for invasion processes and emphasize the role of behaviour in biological invasions. • We measured neophobia and innovation in native and invasive common mynas. • Individuals from the invasion front were the most motorically innovative. • Individuals from the invasive range were more tolerant of a novel food. • The frequency of these phenotypes decreased as the environment became familiar. • We provide empirical evidence to support the adaptive flexibility hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acridotheres tristis, or common myna or Indian myna is a bird species that can mimic human words and sounds around them. Local trainers used to teach the common myna in the State of Kelantan to mimic the words taught using several training procedures. This study aims to determine whether the training procedures used by local trainers have helped in the training process, and the factors that affect the mimicry process for this species are also highlighted. Interview sessions were conducted in nine districts in the State of Kelantan to collect data from local trainers from November 2021 until May 2022. This study utilised the Kruskal-Wallis test to analyse the significant difference in training time among different training procedures and different types of food and water for common myna. The results indicated that the training procedures used by local trainers have affected the training time of this species (p ≤ 0.05). The mean value of training time for other scrape techniques is the lowest, which is considered the best training method in training common myna to mimic the words. The second highest mean value is none scraping methods, followed by scraping tongue using Lalang, which has the highest mean value. In addition, the types of food and water given to common myna by the local trainers during the training procedure did not show a significant difference in training time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing urbanization and industrialization, clean air is becoming a scarce resource. During the present investigation, concentrations of metals (Pb, Ni and Zn) in the atmosphere and their subsequent deposition in the lungs of two common avian species, common myna, Acridotheres tristis (n = 30) and bank myna, A. ginginianus (n = 20), captured from urban areas of Lahore city and semi-urban areas of Pattoki city 80 km away from main city of Lahore were determined. The obtained results were analyzed statistically using Independent sample t test and Pearson's correlation. A comparison of trace metal concentrations in air of both the cities was also carried out. Statistically, significant variations were recorded for Pb (t (7) = − 4.276, p = 0.001) while non-significant differences were observed for both Ni (t (7) = 0.049, p = 0.962) and Zn (t (7) = 1.555, p = 0.146). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social learning of novel threats coupled with adaptive generalization from learned to novel cues together provide the cognitive mechanisms by which adaptive avoidance of threats can spread rapidly both within and across generations. Whereas attention to effects of fishing and hunting on prey is increasing, nothing is known about how human predation can alter the behavior of invasive animals. Here, we examined whether common (Indian) mynas, Acridotheres tristis , one of the most widespread invasive birds in Australia and invasive to many other parts of the world, are learning to respond to anthropogenic predation. We analyzed behavior at an experimental food patch provisioned by 2 distinctly clothed persons both before and after mynas had observed one of the 2 persons seemingly capture conspecifics inside a trap placed at the food patch. After the demonstration, mynas landed in smaller numbers at the food patch and took longer to land. Further, mynas alarm called more when provisioned by the person who had been involved in trapping. Future work will determine whether narrow generalization gradients are a consistent feature of synanthropic species or whether they broaden as a function of human predation threat level as is predicted by the Predator Recognition Continuum Hypothesis. Practical implications for control are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the distribution and potential ranges of detrimental invasive species has become an essential task in light of their impacts on the environment. However, this effort has been challenging, especially for global invaders. Our goal was to test whether potential ranges of global invaders can be predicted, and examine the factors that shape them by studying the past, current and potential global distribution of a broad-ranging avian invader. We used the common myna (Acridotheres tristis), one of the most broad-ranging avian invaders whose range is currently expanding globally, as a case study. We collected the first detailed global database of global occurrence (n = 7990) of the common myna over the past 150 years, including records from the native and the introduced ranges. We employed MaxEnt to construct species distribution models (SDM) for the global database using climatic, anthropogenic and environmental factors. We provide evidence that invasive species distributions can be predicted from older records, and that model accuracy requires integrating data from the introduced range. This first comprehensive distribution for an avian invader indicates an extensive expansion in the common myna global distribution, with the potential of large areas worldwide being at risk of common myna invasion, thus threatening local biodiversity globally. Range expansion has been facilitated by proximity to urbanized areas and broad environmental tolerance. Our findings reflect the major role of anthropogenic impact in increasing the global distribution of avian invaders and emphasize the value of using SDMs to inform global management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduced vocal diversity in founder populations of songbirds is particularly well described in congeners and conspecifics introduced to remote islands but has rarely been examined in species that have been introduced to both island and mainland systems across an expansive geographical range. We examined male between‐ and within‐song complexity variations between founder and native populations of the widely distributed Common Myna Acridotheres tristis and predicted reduced complexity within individuals from founder populations. The percentage of unique songs within a repertoire and within‐song complexity were significantly lower in Mynas from founder populations. This reduced song complexity suggests that vocal founder effects may be exhibited in both island and mainland founder populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common myna Acridotheres tristis is listed among the world’s 100 worst invasive alien species. We combined previous records with a field survey to update the extent and fate of myna introductions in Spain and Portugal. Results suggest that there have been at least 22 independent accidental introductions of three myna species throughout the Iberian peninsula and three archipelagos since the early 1990s. While bank mynas (A. ginginianus) did not become established elsewhere, common mynas reached breeding populations on four islands. Eradication efforts allowed the extirpation of these breeding island populations, but common mynas continue to breed in the Tagus Estuary (continental Portugal). In this region, there is also a breeding population of crested mynas (A. cristatellus), which was undergone an exponential population growth in the last decade. To avoid further accidental introductions, eradication campaigns should be combined with preventive actions aiming to stop the trade of these species in Europe.

The Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus (Latham, 1790) is a member of the Acridotheres Genus of the Family Sturnidae (Passeriformes). This species spreads within the northern parts of South Asia around or close to the human settlements with recent expanding towards southern India. It can be distinguished from its analogous Common Myna Acridotheres tristis of the same Genus, which has been observed for the first time in Iraq at 1997, mainly by the orange skin patch around the eye with some other key morphological features. Since it was observed for the first time in Iraq in the bird-markets at 2001, some individuals of Bank Myna have been occasionally found in the cages in five districts. The first records for this species in the wild in Iraq were represented by unconfirmed observations in the wild at 2005 and 2008 due to the lack of documentation. This paper documents the first confirmed observation of the Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus for Iraq. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a community-run effort to cull Common Myna ( Acridotheres tristis) in Melbourne undertaken with modest funding (overall: $30.14 per trap day, $5.17 per euthanized Common Myna). Trap success (overall, 0.04 birds per trap per day) peaked early in the effort and slowly declined. Trap specificity was high (83.8%) and similar between bait types. Dry cat food captured more Common Myna, and a similar assemblage of animals, to dry dog food. Bread baits captured a broader assemblage of animals. The community-led trapping programme reduced the mean density of Common Myna and achieved high target specificity with relatively few unintended trap deaths. While long-term impacts on the population of Common Myna or native birds are yet to be analysed, the results suggest that ongoing effort is required for population suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

House Sparrow was the most abundant bird species near human habitat until few years back. But from the mid of twentieth century, the declining trend of House Sparrow has been reported from various countries. It has already been red listed in Netherlands and UK. Researches indicate the declining trend of House Sparrow in different cities of India like Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. A 3-month wide survey has been conducted to get a preliminary idea about the distributional trend of House Sparrow in greater Kolkata. Depending on nature of urbanization and human habitat, greater Kolkata, has been subdivided into four regions (Planned City, Highly dense city, Medium dense city and Low dense city regions). In high density urban region the avian density recoded was highest, although avian diversity was maximum in medium and low dense city regions and minimum in planned city. Among 20 observational units of planned city region, House Sparrow has been noticed in 6 units and crow in all units. Among 115 observational units of rest of the regions of greater Kolkata, House Sparrow was observed in 79 units and crow in 98 units. The preliminary information revealed from this survey indicates towards negative relationship between urbanization and House Sparrow population in greater Kolkata and this negative influence is maximum in planned urban region. The presence of sufficient number of House Sparrow in any region indicates environmental stability of that region. So the declining trend of House Sparrow population in greater Kolkata, particularly in planned city region, indirectly gives the evidence of serious environmental degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A common myna (Acridotheres tristis) was presented to Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, Tehran University after swallowing a needle. Radiography and physical examination revealed a metal foreign body within the body with its distal end in the ventriculus. Surgical removal by ventriculotomy under general anesthesia was attempted. Six months of follow up study revealed no complications.

BACKGROUND In Seychelles, the common myna has been shown to have a negative impact on endangered endemic birds on Denis Island, interfering with breeding attempts and attacking adult endemic birds at their nests. This stimulated an attempt to eradicate the island's mynas. RESULTS The eradication was undertaken in three phases, overall killing 1186 mynas and lasting 5 years. Decoy trapping was the most effective method for catching mynas, but the last birds were shot. Decoy trapping was compromised by catches of non-target species. Data collection from killed birds indicated that trapping did not favour either sex, and that most breeding occurred during the wetter season, November to March. CONCLUSIONS Eradication of mynas from small tropical islands is feasible. The Denis Island eradication was prolonged by difficulties in management and staffing. Using volunteers, the cost of the eradication was similar to that of eradicating rodents from the island. In future eradication attempts in Seychelles, possible food stress during the drier season (May to September) might facilitate trapping at this time. Habitat management, especially the removal of short mown grass, could enhance eradication progress. Continued monitoring is needed to confirm eradication and detect any immigration, and also to record responses in the endemic birds. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nesting cavities are often a limited resource that multiple species use. There is an ongoing discussion on whether invasive cavity nesting birds restrict the availability of this key limited resource. While the answer to this question has important conservation implications, little experimental work has been done to examine it. Here, we aimed to experimentally test whether alien cavity nesting birds affect the occupancy of cavities and the resulting breeding success of native cavity breeders in a large urban park located in Tel Aviv, Israel. Over three breeding seasons, we manipulated the entry size of nest boxes and compared the occupancy and breeding success of birds in nest boxes of two treatments. These included nest boxes with large-entrance and small-entrance holes. The large-entrance holes allowed access for both the native and invasive birds (the two main aliens in the park are the common mynas and rose-ringed parakeets). The smaller-entrance boxes, on the other hand, allowed only the smaller sized native cavity breeders (great tits and house sparrows) to enter the boxes but prevented the alien species from entering. We found that the large-entrance nest boxes were occupied by five different bird species, comprising three natives (great tit, house sparrow, Scops owl) and two invasive species (common myna, rose-ringed parakeet) while the small-entrance boxes were only occupied by the two native species. The alien common mynas and rose-ringed parakeets occupied 77.5% of the large-entrance nest boxes whereas native species, mainly great tits, occupied less than 9% of the large-entrance boxes and 36.5% of the small-entrance boxes. When examining the occupancy of those cavities that were not occupied by the aliens, natives occupied both the small and large-entrance nest boxes equally. Three quarters (78%) of the great tits breeding in the large-entrance boxes were usurped by common mynas during the breeding season and as a result breeding success was significantly lower for great tits breeding in the large-entrance boxes compared with the small-entrance boxes. The results of this study suggests that the invasive alien species can reduce the breeding potential of native cavity breeders both by exploiting the limited breeding resource (nest cavities) and by directly usurping cavities already occupied by the native species. Since the majority of large-entrance nest boxes were occupied by the larger alien birds, less native species bred in the limited number of unoccupied large-entrance nest boxes because of exploitation competition. We propose that for management purposes, nest-box programs that alter the entrance size of available natural cavities may be a practical approach, reducing the competition between native cavity breeders and alien invasive birds, and especially benefiting the smaller native cavity breeders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic, multi-season occupancy model framework has become a popular tool for modeling open populations with occupancies that change over time through local colonizations and extinctions. However, few versions of the model relate these probabilities to the occupancies of neighboring sites or patches. We present a modeling framework that incorporates this information and is capable of describing a wide variety of spatiotemporal colonization and extinction processes. A key feature of the model is that it is based on a simple set of small-scale rules describing how the process evolves. The result is a dynamic process that can account for complicated large-scale features. In our model, a site is more likely to be colonized if more of its neighbors were previously occupied and if it provides more appealing environmental characteristics than its neighboring sites. Additionally, a site without occupied neighbors may also become colonized through the inclusion of a long-distance dispersal process. Although similar model specifications have been developed for epidemiological applications, ours formally accounts for detectability using the well-known occupancy modeling framework. After demonstrating the viability and potential of this new form of dynamic occupancy model in a simulation study, we use it to obtain inference for the ongoing Common Myna ( Acridotheres tristis) invasion in South Africa. Our results suggest that the Common Myna continues to enlarge its distribution and its spread via short distance movement, rather than long-distance dispersal. Overall, this new modeling framework provides a powerful tool for managers examining the drivers of colonization including short- vs. long-distance dispersal, habitat quality, and distance from source populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree-cavity-dependent wildlife faces future shortages of cavities due to a decline in the abundance of large, old trees in many parts of the world. Nest boxes are proposed as a tool to restore habitat value but evidence of their effectiveness for arboreal mammals remains equivocal. This may arise from a poor understanding of design preferences. We conducted investigations in two landscapes in eastern Australia to determine whether species show a preference for specific designs. We observed a preference by some mammal species for particular designs (33-78% occupied/used), suggesting that design refinement can improve the frequency with which nest boxes are used. Although feral species may out-compete target species for nest boxes, we did not observe this. We recorded feral honeybees ( Apis mellifera) in 6-9% of nest boxes but they did not remain, and many occupied boxes were later used by mammals. The introduced common myna bird ( Acridotheres tristis) was prevalent in one landscape, but competition for nest boxes was localized. For nest boxes to be an effective habitat restoration tool, they must be able to be occupied over long periods of time. We investigated this for the squirrel glider ( Petaurus norfolcensis), an arboreal marsupial threatened through part of its geographic range. Squirrel gliders occupied and bred within nest boxes (100% used) at two locations continuously over a 10-year period with minimal nest box maintenance. Individuals occupied boxes for up to 7 years. This confirms that targeted nest box programs can be an effective restoration tool for cavity-dependent arboreal mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macro-ecological comparisons have repeatedly demonstrated that the taxonomic distribution of foraging innovations coincides with the ability to adjust to novel and changing environments. We sought to obtain experimental support for the link between innovative foraging and opportunism by measuring the innovation abilities of two highly successful passerines on the east coast of Australia with very different success strategies. The ecological success of the introduced Indian myna, Acridotheres tristis , has been linked to its ability to occupy opportunistically an ecological niche that most natives cannot, whereas the native noisy miner, Manorina melanocephala , owes its success to its ability to aggressively outcompete other avian species. Indian mynas were significantly more neophobic than noisy miners. Yet, when tested on a range of innovative foraging tasks, Indian mynas consistently outperformed noisy miners. The ability to use the beak in a greater range of ways, and more flexibly, was highly repeatable in Indian mynas, and underpinned their superior problem-solving performance. We discuss the results in the light of potential methodological influences, but also the idea that necessity may facilitate innovation not only in less competitive individuals, as is documented in the literature, but also in species with less competitive lifestyles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foraging innovations are increasingly viewed as a key source of phenotypic plasticity and evolutionary change. Often thought to be associated with increased cognitive abilities, innovative foraging behaviour could potentially emerge as a simple consequence of being able to use a greater variety of motor actions in the foraging context. Here, we explored the role of motor diversity in the innovative problem-solving abilities of a highly successful ecological invader, the Indian myna, Sturnus tristis, using an extractive foraging task with multiple compartments. Consistent with findings from several other species, persistence predicted the latency to solve the first compartment. However, motor diversity was the strongest predictor of both solving latency of all further compartments and number of compartments solved. We suggest that motor diversity may facilitate innovation by increasing the ways in which objects can be handled, which in turn would allow for associative learning processes to enhance the expression of successful foraging behaviours. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Metallic pollutants make an important category of environmental contaminants owing to their capability for bioaccumulation and biomagnification in the living systems. The methods employed for determining their concentrations in the living bodies may be invasive or non-invasive and their outcomes have often been questioned regarding their representativeness of the true exposure to the contaminants. The current study was hence designed to compare the outcomes both invasive and non-invasive methods used for exposure assessment of metallic pollutants in living beings. For this purpose, two common avian species bank myna (Acridotheres ginginianus), and common myna (Acridotheres tristis) were selected due to their high abundance in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Trace metals' concentrations were detected in their liver, blood and feathers; former two being invasive methods while the latter approach to be non-invasive one. However a poor correlation was found among metallic pollutants in all three organs with lowest concentrations reported from the blood samples. The association between the trace metal concentrations in all organs was also non-significant. It can hence be concluded that no single organ can be a true representative of environmental exposure to metallic pollutants and combined approaches need to be investigated for determining extent of contamination in living bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a series of experiments to test the numerical competency of two species of birds, Corvus splendens (House Crow) and Acridotheres tristis (Common Myna). Both species were allowed to choose from seven different groups of mealworms with varying proportions. We considered the birds to have made a correct choice when it selected the food group with the highest number of mealworms. Our overall results indicated that the Common Myna is able to count numbers (161 successful choices out of 247 trials) better than House Crows (133 successful choices out of 241 trials). We suspect that House Crows do not rely on a numerical sense when selecting food. Although House Crows mostly chose the cup with more mealworms (from seven food item proportions), only one proportion was chosen at rate above random chance. The Common Myna, however, were slow performers at the beginning but became increasingly more capable of numerical sense during the remainder of the experiment (four out of seven food proportion groups were chosen at a rate above random chance). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foraging innovations are increasingly recognized as an important source of phenotypic plasticity, evolutionary change and adaptation to environmental challenges. One line of research has successfully demonstrated that innovation can represent a stable individual trait, but by the same token has shown strong contextual effects on innovation. We examined the effects of social context on innovative foraging behaviour. Across two separate experiments, we measured the individual propensity of Indian mynahs, Acridotheres tristis, to innovate when alone, in pairs, or in groups of five birds. Although innovators remained consistent in their relative innovation performance ranking (high, medium, low), the presence of one or more conspecifics reduced the likelihood of innovating, and increased innovation latencies, significantly relative to when individuals were tested alone. A neophobia test in which latency to forage was compared in both the absence and the presence of a novel object, in each of two social contexts (solitary versus social), showed that the presence of conspecifics caused mynahs to forage significantly faster in a safe situation (object absent) relative to when alone, but to delay foraging in a risky situation (object present). Together, these findings suggest that sociality can have contrasting effects on foraging in safe and risky situations, and, in some species at least, effects of sociality on innovative foraging may hence be more akin to those observed in the presence of risk. Negotiation over engaging with risks inherent to innovative foraging offered the most likely explanation for socially inhibited innovation behaviour, and may act to constrain the diffusion of innovations under some conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alien invasive species have detrimental effects on invaded communities. Aliens do not invade a vacuum, but rather a community consisting of native and often other alien species. Our current understanding of the pathways and network of interactions among multiple invasive species within whole communities is limited. Eradication efforts often focus on a single target species, potentially leading to unexpected outcomes on interacting non-target species. We aimed to examine the interaction network in a cavity-nesting community consisting of native and invasive birds. We studied the nesting cavities in the largest urban park in Israel over two breeding seasons. We found evidence for a complex interaction network that includes negative, neutral and positive interactions, but no synergistic positive interactions among aliens. Three major factors shaped the interaction network: breeding timing, nesting preferences and the ability to excavate or widen the cavities, which were found to be a limited resource. Cavity enlargement by the early-breeding invasive rose-ringed parakeet may enhance breeding of the invasive common myna in previously unavailable holes. The myna excludes the smaller invasive vinous-breasted starling, a direct competitor of the primary nest excavator, the native Syrian woodpecker. Therefore, management and eradication efforts directed towards the common myna alone may actually release the vinous-breasted starling from competitive exclusion by the common myna, increasing the negative impact of the vinous-breasted starling on the native community. As found here, interactions among multiple alien species can be crucial in shaping invasion success and should be carefully considered when aiming to effectively manage biological invasions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]