Posted by Larry Manfredi on February 17, 2004 at 19:42:10:
In Reply to: Hill myna vs common posted by Paul on February 17, 2004 at 13:16:27:
Common Mynas have been breeding in South Florida since at least 1982 when I saw my first ones nesting in the letters of a K-Mart sign. This was the K-Mart in Hialeah located east of the 826 expressway on N.W. 103 st.
Common Mynas are now found along the east coast of Florida from Ormond Beach to the north all the way south to Key West. They are also found in Clewiston in Central Florida and were found in the Naples and Ft. Myers area. I have seen them twice in Everglades National Park. One sighting was four birds flying south near Mahogany Hammock and two birds prior to this sighting in the parking lot of the Marina store in Flamingo.
These birds are well established and continue to show up in new areas. Fortunately they really enjoy parking lots more than natural areas, at least at this time. I don't see a threat with our native species yet but this could change as the numbers grow.
Larry Manfredi
: Larry's picture of molting C.Myna is not showing the bird as we saw it because of the molt. If however, the link below is valid for the Hill Myna than the bird we phtographed and now have scanned is not a Hill. Basically our bird did not show the black on the side head and through the cheek cutting all the way through to the top of the head. I feel reasonably sure that we are not Hill Myna....we originally were tracking the sharp white line along the wing, the yellow/orange beak, the distinct eye patch color.
: To finalize this, since these birds are now very much present at Wendy's, McDonalds, Dunking Donut, we will get our scan up to photobucket for a short term posting. I'm sure other people will be seeing them regularly for the rest of the spring-tourist season.
: LArry, when it gets posted, feel free to grab it for an adult bird not in molt and use it as you see fit. It isn't meant to be quality, just informational for all those not yet done learning about life.