An animal welfare group has criticised a do-it-yourself myna bird culling program approved by two South Coast councils which allows untrained residents to euthanase the pests.The concern comes as Wollongong City Council explores the introduction of a resident trapping program and confirms Indian mynas are the city’s No 1 pest.Shellharbour and Shoalhaven councils have sanctioned unsupervised programs whereby residents catch Indian mynas in commercial traps then kill them.Recommended methods of euthanasia include breaking their necks and gassing with carbon dioxide.Indian mynas are highly aggressive introduced pests which congregate in urban areas and take over the roosts of native birds.While conceding the need for control measures, RSPCA chief inspector David O’Shannessy said the organisation did not endorse unsupervised programs. “We recommend a program where residents do the trapping and council does the euthanasing,” Mr O’Shannessy said.“If it’s in the hands of everyday residents, there is no guarantee of the skill and ability of the people performing the euthanasia.”Under a program facilitated by Shellharbour City Council which began earlier this year, myna bird traps were provided to 10 residents, together with guidelines for euthanasia.The results are expected to be analysed within the next month.Environment officer Glen Isbester said the traps were given as gifts and the culling program was not the council’s responsibility.“We give out the guidelines, then the onus is on (residents) to read and abide by them,” he said. “Council is not involved in the operation of the traps … people operate them on their own.”“Resource issues” meant training and follow-up could not be provided, Mr Isbester said.If successful, the program will soon be expanded.The program is modelled on that of Shoalhaven City Council, which provides advice and information to residents wishing to carry out their own trapping.Training is not provided and the effectiveness of the program is not monitored.Meantime, Wollongong City Council is developing a program to reduce myna bird numbers.Over the past year it received 120 complaints about the birds, compared to 235 for all other pests combined.Manager of Environmental Strategy and Planning, Renee Campbell said the birds outranked deer and rabbits in ‘‘nuisance’’ value, defecating in public areas and roosting noisily in trees.The council was exploring the introduction of a trapping program, which would require volunteers to sign animal protocols and attend a training workshop, she said.Towradgi resident Luke Yewen said Indian myna birds had long been a problem in his backyard, pushing out native species.He would happily take part in a trapping program.‘‘The most humane method is probably the go – as long as it’s quick,’’ he said. HOW TO EUTHANASE A MYNA BIRD These methods are approved by the NSW Department of Primary Industries: Break its neck: Otherwise known as cervical dislocation. This involves separating the skull and brain from the spinal cord by jerking the bird with each hand, twisting the head backwards over the neck. Critics say this method can cause unnecessary pain when carried out by unskilled people.Inhalation of carbon dioxide: Animals are put in a container into which a high concentration of CO2 is pumped. They lose consciousness very quickly. This method is recommended by the RSPCA when carried out correctly.Barbiturate injection: Depresses the central nervous system, leading to cardiac and respiratory arrest. This causes the quickest death of any method but should only be carried out by qualified persons, such as vets.Decapitation: This method is only recommended for the euthanasia of chicks. The instrument used must be sharp and well maintained.Unsanctioned methods include: Car exhaust fumes: This involves placing the bird in a bag and holding it to the car exhaust of a cold petrol engine. This method is considered cruel and ineffective, especially if the engine is hot.Shooting: This method can be effective in reducing small, localised numbers of birds but is considered labour intensive, expensive and ineffective in the long term.