Invasive Species Paper

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The English starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is also known as the European starling and the common starling. It is about the size of a robin, but the tail is smaller. They are iridescent black with hints of green and purple. English starlings develop white spots on their plumage in the fall, which fades by during the winter. In March, their bills change from black to yellow (Stevens, 1997). The English starling is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, but has spread throughout the world, becoming established in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and North America. The North American starling population originated from approximately 100 birds that were released in Central Park in the early 1890’s in an attempt to introduce all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare’s works to North America. The introduction of the starlings was very successful; the current population is estimated to be 150-200 million birds. One reason for the success of the English starlings is that they are habitat generalists: they are prolific in their natural habitat and tend to form large flocks that can number over 1,000. In their natural and introduced habitats, they are able to exploit a variety of food sources, including invertebrates, fruits, and seeds; they are successful in many different habitats including fields, marshes, agricultural fields, garbage dumps, sewage treatment plants, and cities. Because of their numbers, they can be extremely destructive and will compete with livestock for their feed and strip a field of any seeds that have been sown. They also destroy berry and fruit crops. Starlings are very aggressive and will drive birds (including native species) out of their nests so they can occupy the nesting site. Their nests of choice are in hollows of trees, such as those carved out by woodpeckers, but they will roost in buildings, in bird houses, under shingles, on cliff faces or in cracks in buildings. The aggressive nature of the starlings for nesting space has had a great impact on
many bird species that are native to North America, including the eastern bluebird, tree swallows, woodpeckers, and flickers. The introduction of non-native species into new habitats is a global concern. Introduced species are affecting native ecosystems, causing native species to become endangered or extinct. The disappearance of the native species may have severe consequences for other organisms that rely on them.
Page 1 and 2: Amy Dewees ENVS 685 August 19, 2006
Page 3: species of insect and fungus, keep

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