I'm back to birds for a bit, after exploring the world of caterpillars and butterflies, with a set of most of the Mynas found throughout the world. Many are renown for their ability to reproduce sounds, including human speech, when in captivity. The word "mynah" derives from the Sanskrit "madana" meaning joyful or delightful, which is derived from the root meaning "bubbles." So the derived word "mynah" means "bubbling with joy. The "Myna" (native to most of Asia) should not be confused with the Australian "Miner". While some species may look and sound similiar, they're completely different birds and the Myna is considered a dangerous, invasive pest in Australia, damaging native flora and fauna. The Common Myna's native range covers a large swath of southern and central Asia, from Turkmenistan (part of former USSR), south to southeastern Iran and Afghanistan, eastward through Uzbekistan, southern Kazakhstan, and northwestern China, all countries of Indian subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives) and much of southeastern Asia (Myanmar, southern China, Thailand, Indochina, Malay Peninsula), and south to Singapore. It has been introduced and established in many other parts of the world. These areas include the Hawaiian Island chain from Ni‘ihau eastward (from sea level to at least 2,424 m) and in southern Florida since 1983, with reports from at least 12 counties (Brevard, Broward, Collier, Dade, Hendry, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Monroe, Palm Beach, Seminole, St. Lucie Cos.) and its range expanding. It is omnivorous, feeding mainly on fruits, grain, insects, and grubs. It feeds on the ground and in trees. Many people associate the Myna with Hawaii because it is so gregarious around the touristy areas, but the Common Myna is not a true Hawaiian bird. It was introduced into the Hawaiian Islands in 1865 by William Hillebrand to control a plague of cutworms and army worms. By as early as 1879, this bird was abundant; today, it is one of the most common and most widespread avian species in all of the human-inhabited islands. George Laycock, naturalist and author, wrote “To some Hawaiians, the Myna bird is amusing, to some, he is of no concern one way or the other, but to some, he is a threat to the mental health of the human race.”