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.

Page 1 of 17

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.

Page 2 of 17

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.

Page 3 of 17

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)

Page 4 of 17

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)

Page 5 of 17

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)

Page 6 of 17

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)

Page 7 of 17

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)

Page 8 of 17

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
-

Final roosted on tree

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.

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

Page 9 of 17

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

Final roosted on tree

64.0
71.0
79.8
80.2

352
339
301
295

1
-

5
1
0

Graph Number of Common Mynah (Acridotheres tristis) in Day 2

Page 10 of 17

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

Final roosted on tree

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

Page 11 of 17

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

Final roosted in tree

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.

Graph Number of Common Mynah (Acridotheres tristis) in Day 4

Page 12 of 17

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
-

Final roosted in tree

Environmental
Factors

There are four

(4) Black-naped
Oriole (Oriolus
chinensis) roost
in the same tree.

Notes

There are one

(1) big group
of Mynah
flying and
roost on the
tree.
Mynah group
are pecking the
tree branches
and making
sound (whistle)
each other.

Graph Number of Common Mynah (Acridotheres tristis) in Day 5

Page 13 of 17

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

Final roosted on tree

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

Bird Fly Back

11
3
3
1
-

3
6
3
3
3
-

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.

Mean Number of Common Mynah (Acridotheres tristis) in Five (5) Days Observations

Page 14 of 17

DISCUSSION

Page 15 of 17

CONCLUSION

Page 16 of 17

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

Page 17 of 17