Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 Western Australia, Series 4
Volume 6
Number 4 1965 Article 2
1-1-1965
The starling The starling
John L. Long
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Recommended Citation Recommended Citation
Long, John L. (1965) "The starling," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol.
6: No. 4, Article 2.
Available at: https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol6/iss4/2
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BIRD PESTS
THE STARLING
By J . L. L O N G , M . D . A . , Research Technician
Despite their pretty colour and their song, starlings cannot be considered beneficial, especially in the fruit and grain-growing areas of W . A . where they are declared vermin.
M I L L I O N S of starlings inhabit the settled parts of eastern and south-eastern Australia, b u t so f a r they have not reached W e s t e r n Australia.
The native habitat of the starling (Sturnus vulgaris) extends from Europe to Siberia and occasionally to north- eastern China. Migrations take it as far as North Africa, India and sometimes to Burma. During the present century it has been extending its range in western and northern Europe. The species was introduced and is widely established in North America, New Zealand, South Africa, the West Indies and possibly elsewhere.
It was first introduced to Australia in 1863 with the release of 36 birds in Vic- toria. Probably there were many later introductions; some were certainly re- leased in 1867 and they were introduced into South Australia in 1881. They spread quickly and by 1900 were firmly estab- lished on Eyre Peninsula. By 1926 they were throughout the settled parts of New South Wales. They are now thoroughly established in the settled parts of South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and Queensland.
The starling has only been recorded once in Western Australia when one was shot at Gingin in 1936.
The adult starling is 8i inches long, coloured black with a green and purple sheen and with profuse pale white or buff
but turns yellow in the breeding season.
The tail is short. Both sexes are alike.
Immature birds are brownish or greyish- brown.
Because of their different habits the starling need not be confused with the blackbird, another introduced species.
Starlings run and waddle about the ground whereas the blackbird takes long, springy hops in search of food.
Like the sparrow, the starling breeds quickly. From four to seven pale blue eggs are laid in an untidy straw nest lined with feathers or wool. At least two broods per season are common, but many birds probably have more. In America, it took the starling 20 years longer to occupy suitable habitat than the sparrow which over-ran its range in roughly 40 years from its introduction. However, what the starling lacked in speed it made up with its gregariousness and huge flocks.
In its natural environment and wherever it has been introduced, the starling has increased to such an extent that flocks sometimes darken the sky as the birds move from their roosts to feed- ing grounds. In America, flocks of 25,000 and 50,000 birds are common. In Great Britain, starling numbers have increased to such an extent that it is said the bird has been forced to modify its feeding
THE STARLING
The adult starling is 8 ] inches long, coloured black w i t h a green and purple sheen and w i t h profuse pale white or b u f f spottings all over. These spottings become less conspicuous at times, generally in summer.
T h e b i l l is pointed and darkish b u t turns yellow in the breeding season. T h e tail is short. Both sexes are alike. Immature birds are brownish or greyish-brown.
trees by their sheer weight. Huge flocks in Australia have been known to cause short circuits in power lines in the same manner.
So much has been written on the economics of the starling that it would take volumes to recount. However, in their relation to agriculture, it appears that they are both harmful and beneficial.
Where their numbers are large they do serious damage to fruits and grain crops.
In Australia, America, New Zealand, Great Britain, Europe, South Africa and Russia the birds:—
Cause serious damage to fruit culture everywhere.
Damage olive groves, cherries, grapes (frequently take currants from vines, sultanas from vines and drying racks, and damage table grape varieties) in Aus- tralia. In other countries they raid fruit crops, particularly pears, plums, peaches, figs, mulberries, olives, cherries, grapes and apples.
Damage grain, corn and vegetable crops, by sometimes eating considerable quanti- ties of wheat, eating sprouting corn and seedlings of vegetable crops. In America the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported starling flocks were consuming 3,000 pounds of cattle feed a day from one cattle feeding area in Oregon.
Carry diseases and parasites transmit- table to man and domestic stock. Star- lings have been responsible for the transfer of mites and other parasites to pigeons and domestic fowls in America.
They have been accused of carrying foot and mouth disease, avian tuberculosis, and lice in Great Britain and America.
Other diseases thought to be carried are histoplasmosis, toxoplasmosis and psitta- cosis.
Contaminate buildings and kill trees with accumulations of droppings. Their habit of nesting in roofs is unsanitary and causes fire risks, while the noisy flocks and the smell of contamination annoy city dwellers.
Compete with indigenous species of birds for food and usurp their nests.
lines by roosting birds; the pulling of wool from the backs of sheep in Australia;
feeding on the backs of cattle in America and sometimes developing a taste for flesh and blood (spreading infection—loss of stock) devouring beneficial insects; eating the seeds of harmful plants and spread- ing their seeds.
These harmful aspects must be balanced with the bird's beneficial aspects:—It is said to destroy injurious insects in Aus- tralia, New Zealand, North America, Ireland and Europe, in fact throughout its natural and introduced range. In Ireland, particularly, it is active in the consumption of worms, grubs and insects;
in Canada eats the larvae of the destruc- tive European cornborer; in Australia and New Zealand is credited with preying extensively on sheep and cattle tick. It also helps in the spread of certain beneficial plants.
However, everywhere the starling has become numerous, it is injurious to man's interests. This includes certain areas of its native habitat and all areas to which it has been introduced. Despite their pretty colour and song, starlings could hardly be a beneficial acquisition any- where, especially in our fruit and grain growing areas. They are declared vermin in Western Australia as a preventative measure, and should be destroyed on sight and their presence reported to the Agri- culture Protection Board or the local Shire Council.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Bull. Dept. Agric. Calif. 49 (3) 177-185.
BALLARD, J., 1964: Starlings—They can be Controlled. Americ. Fruit Grower 84 (2) : 22-23, 38.
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Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics WESTERN A U S T R A L I A N OFFICE
COLLECTION OF A G R I C U L T U R A L , D A I R Y I N G A N D PASTORAL STATISTICS SEASON 1 9 6 4 - 6 5
The annual statistical survey of f a r m and station activity in Western Australia for 1 9 6 4 - 6 5 began w i t h the recent posting of over 2 5 , 0 0 0 questionnaires t o farmers and pastoralists t h r o u g h o u t the State. The Deputy Commonwealth Statistician ( M r . R. J . Little) emphasises t h a t under the provisions of the State and Commonwealth Statistics Acts, returns are required f r o m occupiers of all rural holdings and that forms must be completed and returned t o t h e Bureau of Census and Statistics in Perth by the 7 t h A p r i l , 1 9 6 5 .
Persons who have sold, leased or otherwise disposed of their holdings since 1st A p r i l , 1 9 6 4 should advise the Statistician immediately, so t h a t returns can be obtained f r o m the new owners or occupiers w i t h a m i n i m u m of delay. Spare forms, if required, can be obtained at local Police Stations.
This survey forms part of an Australia-wide coverage of f a r m and station activity.
District a n d State totals compiled f r o m the returns provide i n f o r m a t i o n vital to planning at State and Commonwealth levels, besides helping to meet an increasing general demand for statistics relating to primary production. It should be noted that totals only are released by the Bureau, as contents of individual returns are strictly confidential to the Statistician and his Officers, who are not permitted to divulge individual particulars to any other person, authority or Government Department.
Advice or assistance in completing returns is available either by letter, telephone ('phone 21 8 0 4 1 ) or by personal interview at the Bureau's O f f i c e , 11th Floor, T . & G.
B u i l d i n g , 3 7 - 3 9 St. George's Terrace, Perth.
Perth, W . A . 1 0 t h M a r c h , 1 9 6 5 .
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