European Starlings |
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History and Biology: The European Starling (Sternus vulgaris) is not native to North America. It originated as a songbird species in Eurasia. British royalty and aristocrats carried numerous starlings from Africa to England for leisurely enjoyment. In the 1890s, as a nostalgic reminder of the Old World, the British introduced 100 birds into New York City's Central Park. The aggressive and prolific European Starling quickly adapted to a commensal life in North America and by 1900 was firmly established in the northeast. Thriving on its commensal relationship with humans, the European Starling has now extended its North American range from coast to coast and into Alaska. Starlings are medium sized songbirds exhibiting a pronounced chest or sternum, hence their scientific name (Sternus vulgaris) , with short triangular wings and a short squaretail. Their silky plumage is commonly dark and tipped in brown, with iridescent traces of metallic purples, greens, blues, and blacks. These are sometimes highlighted with traces of white, pink, brown, or crimson. The beak is black and turns yellow during the breeding season. The beak is straight, long and tapered for probing the soil. It is muscled to allow for opening in the soil while probing. This is called gaping and is an adaptation that allows for the capture of prey beneath the soil surface. It is an evolutionary advantage over many native songbirds because it allows the starling to gather prey unavailable to competing native foragers. European Starlings form large feeding flocks in late summer and autumn. Starlings breed in the spring and build their nests in cavities associated with buildings and hollow trees. Starlings are prolific climbers and cavity dwellers and will evict native songbird species destroying eggs, chicks, and adults to obtain a nesting cavity. The nest is constructed from fibrous material and lined with softer materials. A monogamous pair will raise two broods per year from two to ten eggs (average 5) per clutch. Starlings live for several years with 47% to 55% survival. Oldest recorded Starling is 20 years 1 month. Starlings are omnivorous and very adaptive, feeding on anything including human garbage. Young are fed insects exclusively. State or federal laws do not protect Starlings. Public Health Damage: European Starlings and their droppings may be a reservoir for the transmission of over 25 diseases to humans (zoonotic diseases) such as psittacosis, salmonellosis, and several forms of encephalitis. Starlings are also a concern to farmers because they may carry and transmit many diseases, such as hog cholera, for livestock. In additional to the numerous infectious zoonotic diseases, Starlings also harbor and transmit a number of ectoparasites are associated with the bird and its nests such as lice, mites, fleas, ticks, and bugs. Structural Damage: European Starlings roost in large flocks thereby defacing structures with excretory droppings and messy nest building. They also cause structural damage to Styrofoam, fiberglass, mineral, and other soft insulation of warehouse buildings and agricultural barns. Nest building in electrical panels, junction boxes, and warehouse lights may cause short circuits and fires. Agricultural Damage: European Starlings threaten the health of livestock in United States agriculture because they may be a reservoir for the potential transmission of many livestock diseases such as salmonella and hog cholera, especially around concentrated poultry and swine production facilities. They also do damage through the consumption and contamination of agricultural seed and grain products in the field, storage facilities, and wholesale and retail outlets. Environmental Damage: European Starlings are more aggressive and bullish in behavior than the native North American songbird species. Consequently, their prolific adaptation to North America has had a negative impact on the mildly mannered native species such as blue birds and purple martins. The bullish starling will eat the eggs and chicks, kill the adults, and steal the nests of the more fragile blue bird, purple martin, woodpecker and other native songbird species. Economic Damage: Economic damage from the European Starling is difficult to assess when you consider the intangible costs of the impact of zoonotic diseases on the public health of humans, livestock, and wildlife. Additionally, it is also difficult to determine the real cost of architectural and structural damages from defacement, insulation loss and fire caused by the prolific nesting and feeding activities on and in anthropogenic structures. Also there is a significant cost to American consumers and business from the consumption and contamination of seed and grain damaged by Starlings. Finally it is impossible to estimate the damage already inflicted and the future impact on the evolution of the mild mannered native North American songbird species by the bullish and aggressive European Starling. References: Coded Federal Registry, 50CFR17.Subpart D, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants Coded Federal Registry, 50CFR 20.43, Wildlife and Fisheries, Hunting and Migratory Bird Regulations Coded Federal Registry, 50 CFR 21.43 Subpart D, Control of Depredating Birds Fergus, C., 2000, Wildlife of Pennsylvania and the Northeast, Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Mallis, A. 1997. Handbook of Pest Control: The behavior, Life History, and Control of Household Pests, Eighth Edition. Mallis Handbook and Technical Training Company. Perrins, C. and Harrison, C.J.O. 1979. Birds: Their life, Their Ways, Their World. Reader's Digest Edition, The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. Pleasantville, N.Y. Sibley, D.A., 2001, The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior, National Audubon Society, Alfred A Knopf, N.Y. Wernert, S. J., 1982. North American Wildlife, The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. Pleasantville, N.Y. |
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