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Invasive Species: European Starling

Invasive Species: European Starling. Background Facts. Also known as a “Common Starling” Has about a dozen subspecies Females normally lay 5 eggs during breeding time, and any lost eggs are replaced Mentioned in the writing of William Shakespeare. Original & New Homeland. From “Eurasia”

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Invasive Species: European Starling

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  1. Invasive Species: European Starling

  2. Background Facts • Also known as a “Common Starling” • Has about a dozen subspecies • Females normally lay 5 eggs during breeding time, and any lost eggs are replaced • Mentioned in the writing of William Shakespeare

  3. Original & New Homeland • From “Eurasia” • General area of Europe & Asia • Now an invasive species in North America, especially the United States

  4. Original Homeland • Considered a beneficial species in Eurasia • Help control certain pests and grass grub • One reason why it wasn’t thought to be an issue introducing them in new places

  5. Introduction in the US • Intentionally brought to New York by Eugene Schieffelin • President of the American Acclimatization Society • Tried to introduce every bird species mentioned in Shakespeare’s works to North America • 1890: Released 60 European Starlings in Central Park (NYC) • These 60 birds have increased to 150 million • The population now extends from Canada/Alaska to Central America

  6. Impacts • Puts chickadee birds native to North America at risk • (competition for nest holes)

  7. Impacts • Eat & damage: • Fruit orchards • New seeds / sprouting crops • Especially good at this due to their strong muscles for opening beaks- easily break into seeds, search through soils, and probe into grass

  8. Control • The United States has taken lethal action • 2008: government killed 1.7 million birds in the United States by poisoning, shooting, or trapping them

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