If Common Myna, also known as Indian Myna, birds are running rampant on your property, Raymond Terrace Men’s Shed may have the solution.
For several years now they have been building traps to help people catch the pests.
“They’re a standard metal style two piece myna bird trap,” President Bob Bull said.
“They have what is called a catching cage and a holding cage.
“They are caught in the first cage and move up into the holding cage until they are disposed of.”
Bob says the need for the traps is “pretty constant”.
“At times we can’t keep up with the demand, particularly in the lead up to the breeding season,” he said.
“Initially our local Port Stephens council were hiring them out but we were getting asked if our shed could make them and sell them and that’s how we got started.
“We’ve been making them for about 10 years, so quite some time.
“Someone needed to supply these catching cages for the community.”
The Indian Myna is an introduced species of bird that has a black head, chocolate brown body and yellow legs, beak and eye patch.
They are one of the most common birds on the eastern coast of Australia and pose a risk to other native birds.
During their breeding season, the birds take over nests that would have been occupied by other species like kookaburras and rosellas.
Bob says people have told them their traps are effective.
“We get a lot of feedback from people who have bought the birdcages and they have been very successful for them,” he said.
“You might go for some time without catching any and then you may get half a dozen quite quickly.”
He adds they have several people at the shed who make the traps.
“We are not the only men shed making the traps, if people check with their local men’s shed they might be making them as well,” Bob said.
“We would have probably eight or 10 people making them at various times.
“We have a big demand for them out here in Port Stephens.”
Anyone interested in purchasing a trap should contact the Raymond Terrace Men’s Shed on 4983 2580.
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