Ornithologists,
scientists who study birds, greatly value diversity among their various avian
subjects. Starlings destroy this
diversity by aggressively expropriating resources that would otherwise go to
native bird species. The starlings
compete fiercely for nesting cavities with natives such as bluebirds,
woodpeckers, flickers, purple martins, and wood ducks, overthrowing them and
often killing their eggs and young and/or murdering the nest maker (Johnson
& Glahn 1994). Starling
presence has substantial impact on local cavity-nesting populations when
nesting sites are made scarce (Johnson & Glahn 1994). In fact, there is speculation that
red-bellied woodpecker’s habitat may shift to more rural forested areas so as to
avoid competing with the destructive starlings for urban nesting sites (Johnson
& Glahn 1994).
Starling ferocity at bird feeders keeps small birds as shown in Figure 1, which are often less able to fend for themselves and collect food elsewhere, from the feeders. The starlings quickly exhaust birdseed supplies intended for smaller species even though starlings’ diet includes a very large variety of food types such as insects, fruits, seeds, grain, and even food waste from garbage cans (Johnson & Glahn 1994). They seize not only local species’ homes and sometimes lives, but also, their food.
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| Figure 1. Starling competing with red-bellied woodpecker for a spot at a bird feeder. (Bo 2010.) |
Starling ferocity at bird feeders keeps small birds as shown in Figure 1, which are often less able to fend for themselves and collect food elsewhere, from the feeders. The starlings quickly exhaust birdseed supplies intended for smaller species even though starlings’ diet includes a very large variety of food types such as insects, fruits, seeds, grain, and even food waste from garbage cans (Johnson & Glahn 1994). They seize not only local species’ homes and sometimes lives, but also, their food.
Works Cited:
Bo, M. (2010)
Red-bellied Woodpecker vs. Starling. Panaramio.
(Date Accessed: May 17, 2013.) http://www.panoramio.com/photo/44196600
Johnson, R, & Glahn, J. (1994) European
Starlings and Their Control.
Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management. (Date Accessed: May 13, 2013.) http://icwdm.org/handbook/birds/EuropeanStarlings.asp
Lynch, J, & Messmer, T. (2010) European
Starlings. Wildlife Damage
Management Series. Utah State
University Cooperative Extension.
(Date Accessed: May 13, 2013.)
http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/nr_wd_011.pdf
Pests and Predators, Birding Basics. (2011) Dealing with Predators and Pests in Your Yard. Birding Basics: Problems. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (Date Accessed: May 13, 2013.)
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/Page.aspx?pid=1185#top
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