Shehu Usman Inuwa

Avian Invasion

The phenomenal European starling, Sturnus vulgaris, has caught the eye of bird lover’s delight. Who wouldn`t admire the vibrant burst of iridescent green and purple coloration on such an eye catching bird? The European starling has got itself in quite the pickle, in order to have been nominated as one of “100s World`s Worst” invaders (Linz et al.). An initial release of 100 starlings into Central Park, New York City in 1890 has their entire North American population over 200 million individuals (Cabe). Much if this success is due to the starling’s hardiness from long migrating patterns and rapid reproduction.

According to the International Symposium, along with the USDA and Federal Wildlife Services, European starlings are native to Europe, northern Africa, and southwest Asia. Due to introductions they are currently found in North and South America, Australia, and parts of Africa. European starlings remain the second most populous bird in North America, only outcompeted in numbers by the red-winged blackbird.

According to the USDA, European starlings are not protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. European starlings compete with native bird species for nesting sites, therefore it is not listed under Depredation Order (50 CFR 21.43) issued by the FWS. This entitles that the birds nest may be removed, without a permit. The European is not to be confused with other native birds, as males and females are hard to distinguish amongst their own species. The European starling exhibits little sexual dimorphism, as one of the only traits to distinguish males and females is their bill color (Linz et al.). The starling`s bill color transitions from bright yellow to blue-gray for males and pink for females, during the March-July breeding season. Starlings may produce up to 6 eggs in a clutch, but they have the potential to lay up to 2 clutches per year. Availability of nest sights and extremely hot or cold temperatures may reduce the number of fledglings.

A starling`s natural diet consist of plant and invertebrates, but become pest when they root in large aggregations. The starlings remain a constant nuisance for farmers and ranchers alike, as they contaminate feeding and watering troughs, along with damaging crops (USDA). Starlings may carry a wide variety of diseases, ranging from salmonella to E.coli. In the US cattle industry alone, E.coli treatment ranges up to $267 million annually, due to starlings. Starlings also cost American farmers $800 million annually by damaging crops. Netting, repellants, and scaring devices are common practices implemented by farmers to protect against the starlings (USDA). More conclusive test must performed to under the European starling`s success, and as means to control their population (Linz et al.). But remember, “Don’t feed the birds”.

References:

1.) Assistance to Dairy Farms and Facilities, 2010, Maryland. United States Department of                Agriculture.https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/wildlife_damage/content/printable_            version/faq_dairy_farms.pdf

2.) Cabe, P. R. (1993). European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), version 2.0. In The Birds of North              America (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bna.48

3.) Linz, George M.; Homan, H. Jeffrey; Gaulker, Shannon M.; Penry, Linda B.; and Bleier,                William J., "EUROPEAN STARLINGS: A REVIEW OF AN INVASIVE SPECIES                    WITH FAR-REACHING IMPACTS" (2007).Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species. 24.             http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nwrcinvasive/24