Reducing the numbers of  "Yellowbeaks"

 

We manage a major Melbourne boarding kennel and cattery and had noticed for sometime the ever increasing numbers of Myna’s, starlings and black birds that ran the gauntlet into pens snatching feed from our metal feed bowls.

An air rifle was employed initially with limited success. In fact any near misses seemed to make it much harder and harder to get close enough to the birds that fled the moment they heard doors or windows open.

The Mynamagnet was purchased with plenty of scepticism. Too many claims for such a basic trap design but still we followed the instructions feeding left over dog food biscuits and prepared soft meat on a daily basis around 5.30pm for one week. Stage two was placing the base of the trap over the same feed dish for 3 days then the top part of the trap left open for a further three days. The food was kept up at the same time each night and as if by magic kept disappearing.

The first photo was taken within one hour of closing the top part of trap. At first when the kids reported that there had to be at least 20 birds stuck in the top of the trap I actually scoffed at their apparent exaggerations. Eventually I had to see for myself, camera in hand I approached the trap and took several photos.

We emptied the trap the following morning and using a hose attached to the exhaust of the family car, 10 minutes later the birds were dead .........

The second day was less spectacular with less than 10 birds which included two blackbirds that were not present amongst the first day’s catch of starlings and Mynas. The final days catch was again quickly euthanized ..........

We intend to set the seven day trapping cycle up once a month and will be encouraging those with kennels around us to purchase a trap to further reduce the infestation of yellow beaks.

Many Thanks,

Scott Joynson