Myna bird cull in Atiu set for success
Atiu is poised to become the first island in the world to eradicate the Common Myna bird thanks to a novel approach to attract some world class shooters to the island.
The Indian Myna bird or the Common Myna as it’s also know has been irritating the locals on the small island of Atiu since it was introduced from Tahiti about 100 years ago.
Two years ago fed up with the situation the local islanders along with the National Heritage Trust decided to make an effort to reduce the bird’s numbers. A mix of poisoning, trapping and shooting was proving effective. But earlier this year when Atiu’s resident shooter decided to leave the island, the control program was thrown into doubt and the Myna bird looked to have won a reprieve.
Bounty hunters were sought with hunters to be paid $4 a Myna bird. There were seven responses. Three or four from professional shooters. People that had done a lot of hunting in New Zealand, people that were really responsible, people that had been in the army and knew a lot about guns and the maintenance of guns.
The first of those shooters was Dan O’Brien. He’s just completed his week long deployment.
O’Brien managed to take out 308 in the first week but it was really tough going.
It was such a successful week that Gerald McCormack of the National Heritage Trust is prepared to make a bold prediction. He says the population of birds is now down to about 600, from a peak of about 7000. And he says that means Atiu is now poised to be the first place in the world to eradicate a substantial population of Common Mynas.
Shooter Dan O’Brien agrees that eradication now looks a possibility. But he’s warning it won’t be an easy task. Despite years of hunting experience, he was surprised at the nous of the Myna.
O’Brien has a huge amount of respect for them as they are such an intelligent bird. After the first couple of days they actually recognised him so he had no chance of getting a shot away.
O’Brien will now share his lessons from the week with the other shooters booked to head to Atiu in the coming months. The next hunter will head over in three weeks with regular visits set to continue until the end of the breeding season. But if the marksmen next in line to make the trip are motivated by the chance to cash-in on the price on the Myna birds heads, O’Brien has some words of warning.
O’Brien cautions if you go there for the bounty, forget it, from the hours he put in, he went through two pairs of shoes because it’s just that rough said O’Brien, it just rips the shoes to pieces. You come back at the end of the day, because you’re looking up for ten to 12 hours of the day, your neck is stiff and you can’t bring your head level. Your legs are aching, you’ve got spider bites. He got eaten by mosquitos.
While the money might not be the motive, ultimately it’s hoped the shooters can take satisfaction in the fact that if all goes to plan, their dedication will have played a crucial role in helping make the small island of Atiu and its 400 residents the only people on earth to have taken on the Myna bird and won. – From ZB Radio Auckland. 26 August 2011

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