Resources

Welcome to our resources section. We are a caring, sharing, innovative Landcare group so help yourself. Note some of these are quite large files

Members, you will find all manner of printable sheets from membership forms to reimbursement claim forms and printable cards you can cut up and leave in letterboxes in your area. If there is anything missing, let us know and we will try to assist.

CVCIA volunteer Jo measuring a cane toad and recording vital statistics.

Training Manuals

Here is the latest version of the CVCIA Cane Toad Training Manual. I have also included just the ID section of the manual as this is often requested and the whole manual is quite a large file.

CVCIA Cane Toad Training Manual (1.8 MB)
CVCIA Cane Toad Training Manual – ID section only (0.8 MB)

Thank you to the Kimberley Toadbusters and Stop The Toad Foundation for the use of their content and images.

Here is the latest version of the Indian Myna Project Handbook (3.5 MB)

Also latest version of the Indian Myna Project Leaflet (1.4 MB)

Landcare Cane Toad Control Handbook

Landcare CaneToad Handbook 25.06.22

Cane Toad flyers & posters

Here are some items you can use to promote the CVCIA and our operations. If you are planning to do cane toad collections in a new street, the “Don’t be Alarmed” flyer is particularly good as a letterbox drop. Let me know if there is anything missing.

Indian Myna Control Handbook

Buy or Build your own Myna trap

The PeeGee Trap – is an inexpensive and easy to build mesh trap being used extensively in most eastern Australian Indian (Common) Myna habitat areas including by the CVCIA throughout the Clarence Valley. Materials cost less than $30, download Plans to build a PeeGee trap.
The beauty of the PeeGee traps is they are non-lethal so if you trap a native you can easily release it. If you trap a bird and you are not certain it is an Indian Myna, please check our Indian Myna Identification or phone Laura or Kevin on 0456 472 177 and we will be more than happy to advise.
Contact your local Council or Landcare group as they may be able to assist you. (Indian Myna Links)
At present we are unable to supply traps due to Covid-19.
The Myna Magnet Trap – is an alternative that has been developed by ANU and is available for purchase on the web.
There are many more traps displayed and sold on the web and as we have little or no experience of them we are unable to comment on them.

A typical PeeGee trap with shade cloth, roof, feeders and perches

DIY water bottle/feeder for captured birds (pdf)

If you are a Clarence Valley resident and do build your own trap, please let us know so we can keep track of how many birds have been removed from the Clarence Valley. You can use the Report Common Myna form on this website or email mynas@cvcia.com.au

If you are a Clarence Valley resident and think you are interested in borrowing a trap from CVCIA Landcare, please call Laura on 0456 472 177 and then, if trapping is for you, we will arrange to loan you one as we usually have several on hand.

If you have a bird that has learnt to have a feed then go back out of the trap then you could consider adding the swing doors you can get details here. If you have any queries, please call Laura or Kevin on 0456 472 177 or 0490 795 283 to discuss.

These traps are only for Indian Mynas and will only be supplied for this purpose. The trapped Mynas must be treated in a humane and responsible manner and the recommended DPIE methods of euthanasia should be used.

Native birds are protected by law so please make sure the bird you are trying to trap is an Indian (Common) Myna if in any doubt please check the Indian Myna Identification provided on this website.

Trapping

The beauty of these traps is they are non-lethal so if you trap a native you can easily release it unharmed.

Guide and Tips to Trapping

Place the trap in a relatively open area or where birds have been seen feeding on the ground on a regular basis. Observe the Mynas’ habits. Look for their day and night use areas and place trap accordingly.
Trapped native birds are protected by law and must be released as soon as possible so please monitor the trap regularly.
Bait the Trapping compartment (smaller section of trap) with Lucky Dog Minis minced beef or similar (must be predominately red in colour). Cheezels or similar, found in the snack food aisle, can also be a good lure.
Bait should be placed on a saucer in the centre of the Trapping section, a few bits can be sprinkled around the saucer and in the inner part of the entry tunnels.
If the bait gets wet then re-bait with fresh biscuits, as it loses its attraction or smell.
When in use please keep the trap clean, baited and the Holding compartment (larger section of trap) supplied with food and water.
Only set up the trap and remove trapped mynas when no free-flying mynas are around. If a trapped Myna gives a distress call other mynas will be alerted of danger and may avoid your trap. Don’t let them see you. Be careful not to educate them about the trap.
The use of a caller bird (trapped myna) should be considered, although this requires more effort, it has a better success rate. The “caller” can live in the larger (Holding) part of the trap. It must be looked after as a happy bird will encourage other mynas to visit it increasing your chances of trapping success.
(Caller video link)
Patience and persistence is often required as the adults are clever birds and may take some time to catch. Success rate is higher during September to March as this is their breeding season and the young are less wary so easier to trap.
Monitor any nesting boxes. If used by Mynas, destroy the nest and any eggs then clean out the nest box as mynas are dirty tenants. Use gloves when handling nest material and live or dead birds.

If you have a bird that has learnt to have a feed then go back out of the trap then you should consider adding the swing doors. These are supplied with all new traps or see below to make your own. If you have any queries, please call Laura or Kevin on 0456 472 177 or 0490 795 283 to discuss.

Native birds are protected by law so please make sure the bird you are trying to trap is an Indian (Common) Myna if in any doubt please check the Indian Myna Identification provided on this website

Swing door to stop clever Mynas escaping

Occasionally we come across Indian Mynas that figure out how to walk in, have a feed and crouch down to escape from the feeding section or manage to escape from the holding cage back down the funnel. If the bird is escaping back down the funnel first check that the cover section at top of the funnel is at about 45 degrees, if not bend it down first as this may solve the problem.

If you do have this problem, cut out a piece of wire (25mm x 25mm squares) similar as shown (1).

Then bend the long ends and hook them over the inner ends of the entry tunnels or funnel as shown, (2) shows the funnel in the large cage and (3) the entry tunnels in the smaller section.

Check they swing freely and don’t hook up on the rolled spikes and then your clever bird should no longer be able to escape. Swing doors are not normally fitted as they may discourage some birds entering but are included should you need them.

The wire is not red; we coloured them so you could better see how they are fitted.