The Indian or common myna might not be such a villain after all, and native birds display more aggression than mynas when competing for food.

The researcher, PhD student Kathryn Haythorpe, is investigating the common mynas' behaviour and has completed a scientific field study of the birds in the Newcastle region.

Lake Macquarie City Council granted the university $6784 for her study into finding management solutions for the mynas and whether their numbers were expanding in the Hunter.

"Common mynas certainly do seem to be on everyone's radar," Ms Haythorpe said.

Her research is not complete, and she is yet to study the nest competition and usurping behaviour of the birds, but Ms Haythorpe said the mynas' ability to out-compete other bird species for food resources was minimal.

"They (mynas) do not display as much aggression as they are often attributed with," she said.

"In fact, there are native birds that are also doing substantial, if not more damage, such as noisy miners. And birds such as currawongs, kookaburras and magpies display a lot more aggression.

"For sure, common mynas are a problem but I think their tendency to carry out their lives in such close proximity to humans and their status as introduced animals makes us particularly sensitive to any potentially damaging behaviours and likely to overestimate their actual impact."

She said myna attacks on other birds were noticeable because they occurred in suburban backyards.

"Another species may display much greater aggression that goes unseen by us because they live in the bush," she said.

Ms Haythorpe's findings follow a Lakes Mail story on February 2 about Sydney's Garry Cunich who is waging war on Indian mynas with his specially designed traps.

Mr Cunich said several councils had bought his traps to hire for public use.

Among them was The Hills Shire which has 20 traps for hire, and a waiting list.

Ms Haythorpe said trapping was only a short-term solution.

"Ultimately if the habitat is suitable for them they will keep coming back," she said.