Nestbox pests:
Indian myna - the problem
Indian myna - prevention
Indian myna - control
Feral bees - the problem
Feral bees - control
Brushtail possums
Ants
| Brushtail possums as pests |
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| Brushtails are
a native animal and, in many locations, are the last representatives
of the rich marsupial fauna for which Australia is famous.
However, brushtails can be a pest if one is trying to encourage
birds. As with every other pest, deterrence is the best
strategy. This site describes some of our experiences - note
possum defeats man every time. |
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Simplistic. Our
first attempt, made from fine weldmesh. They must have giggled.
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| Flaps. This consisted of pieces of metal flashing screwed to the sides of the box and the front of the lid. Originally the piece screwed to the lid was vertical but the possums rearranged it to its present horizontal position - presumably easier to get in like this. |
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 . Photography by Ewa & Tim
Meyer. |
Walk the plank.
This idea involved 200mm of 100mm diameter PVC sewer pipe. A bed of gangnails
was fitted to the top of the pipe (eg the only flattish portion of the
pipe). The possum had to do a somersault at the end to enter the
pipe. Easy |
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The bed of nails.
The lid is totally covered with upturned gangnails. Most possums
enter a box from the lid, so if you can't get onto the lid, you won’t
access the box. |
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The shroud.
The latest idea, being trialled at present. There are two parts
to a trial - will it keep possums out and will a bird go anywhere near
such a contraption. |
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While it is fine to look at the light side of this, the absence of an effective possum guard is robbing many towns and cities of lots of beautiful birds. Where I live, rosellas are in steep decline because possums are monopolising all potential breeding hollows and even rainbow lorikeets, arguably as aggressive a bird as one could find, are appearing in ever-smaller flocks. |
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