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Practical Report of Common Mynah (Practical 5)
Practical Report of Common Mynah (Practical 5)
INTRODUCTION
The Common Mynah is a member of the starling family and is also known as the
Indian Mynah or Indian Mynah. Common Indian Mynas can be confused with Noisy
Miners, Manorina melanocephala, a native Australian species that is also aggressive and
often moves around in groups, as do Common Indian Mynas and they look superficially
similar to them.
The Common Mynah is brown with a black head. It has a yellow bill, legs and bare
eye skin. In flight it shows large white wing patches. The habitat of the common Myna is
nearly associated with human habitation, which they will gather in a large group around
evening in communal root, mainly in the non-breeding season, in roof voids, bridges and
large trees. Sometimes, the numbers can reach up to several thousand. The Common Mynas,
feeding on almost anything, including insects, fruits and vegetables. In their native range,
common mynas begin nesting in March and breeding lasts through September. Favoured
locations are in the walls and ceilings of buildings, making these birds a nuisance to humans.
Fortunately, common Mynas contribute a positive economic importance to Humans
by reducing insect populations in agricultural ares. As example, in Hawaii Islands, they help
to control population on cutworms. They also are able to pollinate and disperse the seeds of
economically important trees. Common Mynas are often sold as pets for their intelligence and
ability to mimic human speech.
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1. Location of Study
The location area of our study is near BioCristalography Laboratory and Vector Control
Unit in University Science of Malaysia, Main Campus, Penang. A particular tree on the
campus was marked and we used it as a roosting site by the birds. During the evening, we
observed and monitored the birds activities when they come to the roost by using binoculars.
Tree of roosting behavior by Common Mynah (Acridotheres Tristis). The location of tree is
near BioCristalography Laboratory and Vector Control Unit in University Science of Malaysia,
Main Campus, Penang.
2. Roosting Behaviour
All of the activities and behaviour pattern are recorded every 15 minutes. We started our
observations and recordings from 1830 hours to 1945 hours. We also recorded the light
intensity by using Photometer, humidity by using Humidity Temperature Meter (Brand:
CENTER,310 Series) and the ambient temperature for the period. Other environmental
factors such as rain, noise and presence of people also recorded if it is present. The number of
the birds present every 15 minutes will be counted and recorded.
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Tristis) was calculated. The numbers of bird present and bird fly back of
Common Mynah (Acridotheres Tristis) during roosting behavior were influenced by ultimate
and proximate factors such as present of food, environmental condition (light intensity,
humidity and temperature) bill sizes and shape, digestive system and sosial system.
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There was two (2) Mynah roost on the tree branches at 6.30pm (Day 1)
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There were two (2) Mynah roost on the tree branches at 7.00pm (Day 2)
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There were three (3) Mynah roost on top of Vector Control Units building (Day 3)
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There were two (2) Mynah roost on the tree and looking for other Mynah on the ground (Day 4)
There was other species, Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis) roost on the same tree (Day 5)
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One (1) of Mynah was pecking the tree branches and the other one (1) was looking for food on the
branches (Day 5)
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The activities of Common Mynah (Acridotheres tristis) show in five (5) days observation.
Day 1 Observation
Time
(pm)
Temperature
(C)
Humidity
( % RH)
Light
Intensity
(Lux)
Bird Count
6.30
32.1
58.0
447
Bird
Present
12
6.45
7.00
32.0
31.0
62.0
62.0
430
400
3
10
8
-
7.15
7.30
7.45
30.8
29.2
29.0
72.0
80.0
80.2
345
298
290
1
-
10
8
-
Bird Fly
Back
-
Environmental
Factors
Notes
Mynah group
are playing on
the ground
under the tree
Mynah group
are pecking the
tree branches
and making
sound (whistle)
each other.
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Day 2 Observation
Time
(pm)
Temperature
(C)
Humidity
( % RH)
Light
Intensity
(Lux)
Bird Count
6.30
31.8
58.8
460
Bird
Present
16
6.45
31.2
61.5
430
Bird Fly
away
-
16
Environmental
Factors
Notes
Mynah are
flying in group
and roost on the
tree.
Mynah group
are looking for
food on the
ground.
Mynah group on
the tree are
pecking
branches and
making sound
(whistle) each
other.
7.00
7.15
7.30
7.45
30.8
30.1
29.2
29.0
64.0
71.0
79.8
80.2
352
339
301
295
1
-
5
1
0
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Day 3 Observation
Time
(pm)
Temperature
(C)
Humidity
( % RH)
Light
Intensity
(Lux)
Bird Count
6.30
32.5
58.0
465
Bird
Present
-
6.45
32.0
62.0
460
7.00
7.15
7.30
7.45
31.8
30.5
29.8
29.5
62.0
72.0
78.0
80.1
380
341
298
280
Bird Fly
Back
-
Environmental
Factors
Notes
One group of
Mynah (3
birds) are
flying and
roost on top of
Vector Unit
without roost
on the tree.
There are
Swallow bird
(Raphidura
leucopygialis)
flying near the
tree.
In Day 3, there
have no
Mynah group
can be
observed.
There are no graph shown for number of Common Mynah (Acridotheres tristis) in Day 3
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Day 4 Observation
Time
(pm)
Temperature
(C)
Humidity
( % RH)
Light
Intensity
(Lux)
Bird Count
6.30
32.0
55.0
450
Bird
Present
10
6.45
31.8
63.0
415
7.00
7.15
7.30
31.5
30.6
30.1
67.0
72.0
79.8
380
350
302
1
2
-
5
5
7.45
29.5
80.1
299
Bird Fly
Back
2
Environmental
Factors
There are
Swallow bird
(Raphidura
leucopygialis)
flying near the
tree.
Notes
Mynah group
are flying from
ground to the
tree.
There are one
(1) group of
Mynah looking
for food on the
ground.
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Day 5 Observation
Time
(pm)
Temperature
(C)
Humidity
( % RH)
Light
Intensity
(Lux)
Bird Count
Bird
Present
Bird Fly
Back
6.30
31.7
64.3
520
19
15
6.45
30.4
68.9
470
7.00
7.15
7.30
7.45
30.2
29.9
29.1
29.0
69.6
72.0
74.0
79.5
425
390
320
290
4
3
-
6
3
4
-
Environmental
Factors
Notes
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Mean of Common Mynah (Acridotheres tristis) count including birds present and birds
fly back to every time duration before and after sunset in 5 days observations,
26th January 30th January 2013.
Time
(pm)
6.30
6.45
7.00
7.15
7.30
7.45
Temperature
(C)
32.04
32.48
31.06
30.38
29.48
29.20
Humidity
( % RH)
58.80
63.48
64.92
71.80
78.32
80.02
Light
Intensity
(Lux)
468.0
441.0
387.4
353.0
303.8
290.8
Bird Count
Notes of Activities in
Roosting Behaviour
Bird Present
11
3
3
1
-
3
6
3
3
3
-
Mean Number of Common Mynah (Acridotheres tristis) in Five (5) Days Observations
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DISCUSSION
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CONCLUSION
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REFERENCES
Web References:
http://www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/Living%20in%20the%20Area/Parks/Facilities/IndianMyna
Birds.htm
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Sturnus-tristis
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Acridotheres_tristis/
http://fennerschool-associated.anu.edu.au/myna/identification.htm
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