Common Mynas

I notice many birders like killing Common Mynas. This species was released
a long time ago and now inhabits more than 25% of Eastern Australia. It
believe the time for an effective campaign to eradicate Common Mynas
probably passed 100 years ago. However, I wrote this poem several years ago:

*The Common Myna*

According to the Common Myna

Life in Oz could not be finer

Ample ecologic niches

Full of gastronomic riches

To refugees from lands afar

The Aussie door is left ajar

From the overcrowded Ganges delta

Come Common Mynas seeking shelter

Mind you stress can be intense

When translocating continents

To achieve an immigration mission

You can’t dismiss the competition

Kites, magpies and Currawong

All do their best to do them wrong

Goannas, snakes and many others

And don’t forget those Kookaburras

They steal their nests, eat their young

When settling in has just begun

And believe you me I do not jest

When I say specific prejudice

Mind you one can understand

These natives think it is their land

Millenia of evolution

Occupation and collusion

But it’s hard to comprehend the hate

From the pale skinned primate

Also recent immigrants

From over crowded continents

These humans flaunt their shameless skill

For destroying habitats at will

Converting ancient forest tall

Into ugly urban sprawl

They eliminate all competition

With poison, plough and land division

And into fragile habitats

Bring rabbits, foxes, toads and cats

And thus it seems to be to me

Such unashamed hypocrisy

Amidst destruction caused by them

The Common Myna to condemn.

GEOFF RYAN

2010