The ring-necked parakeet (Psittacula krameri) has been naturalised in La Palma Island Biosphere Reserve since the late 1990s. Due to landowners' complaints about the impact of parakeets on crops, a control scheme was implemented to eliminate the known population, initially estimated at 70 birds. The programme finally comprised three different phases. Between December 2015 and September 2016, 107 parakeets were removed by trapping using 14 decoy traps. Due to inefficient handling and trap shyness developed by the parakeets, traps were removed from October 2016 to November 2017, with at least 20 parakeets remaining in the wild. The control measures restarted in December 2017; 34 parakeets were counted and 13 were trapped. Since the parakeets had started to breed, the method was changed from trapping to shooting, to remove the last 34 parakeets. In total, during the entire project (December 2015-May 2018), 175 ring-necked parakeets were managed: 154 removed from the environment, 1 handed over to the project staff, and 20 registered by authorities as pets. Considering the undetermined number of ring-necked parakeets kept as pets on the island, an early detection and rapid response system has been set up by the island council, engaging public workers and volunteers to investigate and control new escapes. This project is one of the few cases worldwide where naturalised breeding populations of this invasive species have been successfully eliminated from the environment. Negative effects on biodiversity and human interests were thus minimized, and especially important, this was achieved without generating any social conflict.
Despite posing a serious threat to global biodiversity, national and international management efforts have not been able to limit the spread of most invasive species. In highly dispersive species, local invasions may be followed by regional range expansion that crosses international borders. In such cases, independent management efforts of the invading population may be futile unless international collaboration is practiced. We focus on the ongoing human‐mediated invasion of the common myna Acridotheres tristis into the Mediterranean basin, a region rich in overall numbers of species and endemic species, where common mynas have been introduced into a handful of countries. Some introductions were followed by subsequent range expansions into neighbouring countries. This species poses major threats to the biodiversity of the Mediterranean which is already susceptible to biodiversity loss as the result of ongoing land use and climate changes. Without action, this species and possibly others similar to it, could have severe consequences for native ecosystems. Policy implications. Given the regional scope of its invasion in the Mediterranean basin, common myna management requires an international collaboration to successfully prevent additional introductions and range expansions and to avoid accelerating threats to Mediterranean biodiversity, already at risk as a result of ongoing changes in land use and climate. We argue that international reciprocal transfer of information and the development of regional mitigation are essential for the successful management of the invasion of the common myna and other species into the Mediterranean.
In order to identify potential infectious disease threats to the native avifauna of French Polynesia, an evaluation was performed on the health status of four wild non-native species of birds on the island of Tahiti: common myna, red-vented bulbul, rock dove, and zebra dove. From six locations, a large sample set (151–349 individuals) was tested for several viruses and bacteria, and a small sample set (22–40 birds), because of its proximity to the last remaining population of the critically endangered Tahiti monarch, was checked for more pathogens. Disease-specific screening methods were used. None of the following viruses were found: Newcastle disease virus, avian influenza virus, West Nile virus in 159, 189 and 204 sera; 349 birds examined for poxvirus lesion; avian metapneumovirus and avian adenovirus in 38 and 38 sera; avian polyomavirus in 28 cloacal swabs. The prevalence of bacteria and avian malaria was: Salmonella Heidelberg (5% from 21×10 pooled samples of intestinal contents), Chlamydia spp. (8% on 196 cloacal swabs) including Chlamydia psittaci (3%), Plasmodium relictum – haplotype GRW04 (2% on 205 DNA), Haemoproteus spp. (25% on 205 DNA). In the limited sample set, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bordetella avium and Riemerella columbina were isolated with a prevalence of 3% each in 40 tracheal swabs. The potential role of introduced birds as vectors of zoonosis in French Polynesia and the crucial finding of Plasmodium relictum with several ubiquitous and dangerous pathogens on Tahiti Island should be given the appropriate attention by local authorities and conservationists.
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