Pilbara residents and visitors are asked to report sightings of any unusual birds, following a recent confirmed detection of the invasive pest Indian house crow at Dampier.
Pilbara residents and visitors are asked to report sightings of any unusual birds, following a recent confirmed detection of the invasive pest Indian house crow (Corvus spendens) at Dampier.
The declared pest, also known as house crow, grey-necked Ceylon or Colombo crow, is not native and there are no known populations currently present in Australia.
The pest could cause damage to vegetable and fruit crops, prey on native birds' chicks and eggs, as well as attack and harass livestock and other animals, if it were to become established in Western Australia.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has removed the pest, which was a hitchhiker on a commercial vessel docking at Dampier port.
DPIRD biosecurity officer Lara Martin said community support was vital as a first line defence to protect the agriculture industry and the environment.
"The early detection of this Indian house crow at Dampier highlights the value the broader community plays in identifying and reporting biosecurity issues," she said.
"The more people we have looking for pests, the quicker we can find them to limit their impact and spread."
Indian house crows are an omnivorous scavenger, eating almost anything including grains, fruits, nuts, nectar, insects, fish and small animals.
It can be found near eggs and nestlings, food scraps and garbage.
House crows are similar in body shape to Australian native crows but smaller and more slender, with a black glossy plumage, black eyes, legs and feet.
The nape, neck and lower breast have pale grey to mouse-brown tones, while the bill is black and the upper beak is strongly curved.
Immature native birds initially have a dark brown eyes, which lighten to white as the birds mature.
