The European Starling
An invasive species
Fun Facts
- Scientifically known as Sturnus Vulgaris, which translates to Common Starling
- Introduced by a Shakespeare fan named Eugene Scheifflin, who had decided to bring every bird included in the writings of Shakespeare into the U.S., starting with the European Starling
- One of only 3 bird species not protected by the government
- Roost and fly in enormous flocks, which is the source of most of the damage
Impact
- Because of their large roosting groups, droppings, which are phytotoxic, accumulate, killing trees and other plants
- Damage many fruit crops like cherries, strawberries, and grapes
- Wintertime flocks can consume up to 27,000 tons of feed during winter months and spoil more feed with droppings
- Starlings displace birds like woodpeckers and bluebirds
- Roosting in large groups can cause disfiguration to both trees and man-made objects
Range
What Can We Do?
- Protect livestock and buildings with traps and repellents
- There is not much to be done for wildlife