Practical Report of Common Mynah (Practical 5)

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THE EFFECTS OF LIGHT INTENSITY AND TEMPERATURE ON THE ROOSTING

BEHAVIOUR OF THE COMMON MYNAH (Acridotheres Tristis)

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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MATERIALS AND METHODS

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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3. Observation and Data Record

This experiment is carried out for 5 days to get a a reasonable data set. All the activities

and behavior during roosting on the tree by Common Mynah (Acridotheres Tristis) were

recorded. Data then be analyses in graph and mean for the numbers of Common Mynah

(Acridotheres 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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OBSERVATION AND RESULTS

Photographic observation activities of Common Mynah (Acridotheres Tristis) were recorded

in five (days) experiment 26th

January 30th January 2013.

There was two (2) Mynah roost on the tree branches at 6.30pm (Day 1)

One (1) Mynah was pecking the tree at 6.45 pm (Day 1)

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One (1) Mynah was roost on the branches (Day 2)

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)

There was no individual or group of Mynah roost on the tree (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)

There was a Mynah is grooming (cleaning) its feathers (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 Environmental

Factors

Notes

Bird Present

Bird Fly

Back

6.30 32.1 58.0 447 12 - Mynah group

are playing on

the ground

under the tree

6.45 32.0 62.0 430 3 8

7.00 31.0 62.0 400 10 - Mynah group

are pecking the

tree branches

and making

sound (whistle)

each other.

7.15 30.8 72.0 345 1 10

7.30 29.2 80.0 298 - 8

7.45 29.0 80.2 290 - -

Final roosted on tree

0

Graph Number of Common Mynah (Acridotheres tristis) in Day 1

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Day 2 Observation

Time

(pm)

Temperature

(C)

Humidity

( % RH)

Light

Intensity

(Lux)


Factors

Notes

Bird Present

Bird Fly

away

6.30 31.8 58.8 460 16 - Mynah are

flying in group

and roost on the

tree.

6.45 31.2 61.5 430 5 16 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 30.8 64.0 352 1 5

7.15 30.1 71.0 339 - 1

7.30 29.2 79.8 301 - -

7.45 29.0 80.2 295 - -


0


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Day 3 Observation

Time

(pm)

Temperature

(C)

Humidity

( % RH)

Light

Intensity

(Lux)


Factors

Notes

Bird Present

Bird Fly

Back

6.30 32.5 58.0 465 - - One group of

Mynah (3

birds) are

flying and

roost on top of

Vector Unit

without roost

on the tree.

6.45 32.0 62.0 460 - - There are

Swallow bird

(Raphidura

leucopygialis)

flying near the

tree.

7.00 31.8 62.0 380 - -

7.15 30.5 72.0 341 - -

7.30 29.8 78.0 298 - -

7.45 29.5 80.1 280 - -


0

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)


Factors

Notes

Bird Present

Bird Fly

Back

6.30 32.0 55.0 450 10 2 Mynah group

are flying from

ground to the

tree.

6.45 31.8 63.0 415 2 3 There are

Swallow bird

(Raphidura

leucopygialis)

flying near the

tree.

There are one

(1) group of

Mynah looking

for food on the

ground.

7.00 31.5 67.0 380 1 5

7.15 30.6 72.0 350 2 -

7.30 30.1 79.8 302 - 5

7.45 29.5 80.1 299 - -

Final roosted in tree

0


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Day 5 Observation

Time

(pm)

Temperature

(C)

Humidity

( % RH)

Light

Intensity

(Lux)


Factors

Notes

Bird Present

Bird Fly

Back

6.30 31.7 64.3 520 19 15 There are one

(1) big group

of Mynah

flying and

roost on the

tree.

6.45 30.4 68.9 470 5 3 There are four

(4) Black-naped

Oriole (Oriolus

chinensis) roost

in the same tree.

Mynah group

are pecking the

tree branches

and making

sound (whistle)

each other.

7.00 30.2 69.6 425 4 6

7.15 29.9 72.0 390 3 3

7.30 29.1 74.0 320 - 4

7.45 29.0 79.5 290 - -

Final roosted in tree

0


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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)

Temperature

(C)

Humidity

( % RH)

Light

Intensity

(Lux)

Bird Count Notes of Activities in

Roosting Behaviour

Bird Present Bird Fly Back

Common Mynah was

flying, roosting and

looking for food in

group.

Common Mynah was

roost on tree and like

to groom its feathers,

and make sound

(whistle).

Common Mynah was

also pecking on the

trees branches.

6.30 32.04 58.80 468.0 11 3

6.45 32.48 63.48 441.0 3 6

7.00 31.06 64.92 387.4 3 3

7.15 30.38 71.80 353.0 1 3

7.30 29.48 78.32 303.8 - 3

7.45 29.20 80.02 290.8 - -


0

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

Documents

Practical Report of Common Mynah (Practical 5)