Wildlife carer puts $5 bounty on Indian mynas, the 'cane toads of the sky'

The Indian myna is an introduced species commonly referred to as the "cane toad of the sky". (Supplied: Jim Thomson)

A patchwork approach to managing a pest species is fuelling community action and frustration over the lack of state or federal response.

The Indian myna is an introduced bird and competes with native wildlife.

There are calls for more councils to offer bounties, or for the state or federal governments to implement a coordinated management program.

Across Queensland, there is a grassroots push and growing frustration over a patchwork approach to dealing with a pest species known as "the cane toad of the sky".

The Indian myna or common myna is considered one of the world's 100 most invasive species.

In the state's south-west, wildlife carer Shannon Mathes is so concerned about its threat to native species, she has self-funded a bounty program that forks out $5 for every bird humanely caught.

"They're driving out all of our native wildlife from all our local trees in our areas and even small mammals like our gliders, possums, small reptiles," the Charleville carer said.

Shannon Mathes runs a wildlife rescue service in Charleville. (Supplied: Shannon Mathes)

About 800 kilometres away on the coast, Sian Swales started a community action group in Mackay to tackle the "out-of-control" pest.

The Mackay Regional Council earlier this year encouraged residents to loan traps through Ms Swales's Mackay Indian Myna Bird Action Group (MIMBAG) in an effort to eradicate the species.

"It just shouldn't be up to us … something should have been done 20 years ago."

Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson said they were not in a position to offer financial incentives.

"What's needed is a coordinated approach at the state or national level," he said.

Sightings of the Indian myna reported to MynaScan over the past five years. (Supplied: FeralScan)

The species' inconsistent pest status throughout the country has left a patchwork approach to dealing with the issue and many communities, like Mackay and Charleville, relying on grassroots groups to eradicate the birds.

The Indian myna was released in Victoria in the 1860s to eat insects but has become one of the highest-ranking pests on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

It competes with native birds and wildlife, damages crops, can spread avian malaria and cause dermatitis, allergies and asthma in humans.

The introduced Indian myna, left, is regularly confused with the native noisy miner. (Supplied: Queensland Murray Darling Committee )

A declared pest in Western Aus