Abstract
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.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Kruger National Park rangers and managers, Guy Hausler and members of the public for providing records of myna sightings.
Funding
The study was supported by grant no. 18-18495S (Czech Science Foundation), and long-term research development project RVO 67985939 (Czech Academy of Sciences). LCF is funded by SANParks, and acknowledges support from the DSI-NRF Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University.
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Supplementary material 1.
The list of localities of common myna (Acridotheres tristis) in Kruger National Park. The following information is given for each record: ID, date of sighting, description of the locality with notes on observation, behaviour, habitat, observer category, coordinates, number of birds observed, whether the locality is within KNP (1 – yes, 0 – no), and whether the sighting was the first in a given locality (1 – yes, 0 – no). The sightings were reported mostly by park rangers and the details on observers are being held in the complete database maintained at SanParks. Habitats: natural = in natural vegetation, no human influence; Natural (near decomissioned windmill) = in natural vegetation area, near old infrastructure; natural/river (causeway) = natural area, near a river/stream causeway; dam/remote = dam far from human areas; camp = tourist camp; staff garden/camp = in a staff garden or living quarters, near a camp; staff camp/isolated= few permanent residents; dam/camp = at a dam, situated near a tourist camp; entrance gate (small) = single isolated park gate, no permanent residents; picnic spot = tourist picnic site; neighbouring town = adjacent to KNP or within 20 km. N.A. = not applicable, unknown, N.R. = not recorded. (XLSX 24 KB)
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Pyšková, K., Pyšek, P. & Foxcroft, L.C. Introduction and invasion of common myna (Acridotheres tristis) in Kruger National Park, South Africa: still time for action?. Biol Invasions 24, 2291–2300 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-022-02790-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-022-02790-x