Ability to Respond Total:4 / 25Ability to Respond = ( Ease of Response + Tools in Place )
Confidence:High
Confidence Notes:
Impact
Spread
Notes
Score
Spread Rate
As their name suggests, European starlings are not native to the U.S. and were first introduced in New York in 1890. By 1928 they had reached the Mississippi River and by 1942 the made it to the west coast.
5
Spread Amount
European starlings have spread across the entire state of California and most of the world and have made the top 100 list of "Worlds Worst" invaders.
5
Damage
Notes
Score
Ecological
Not only do starling spread disease to other animals, another of their worst ecological offenses is their vast displacement of native cavity nesting birds in areas they have invaded.
5
Agricultural
It is impossible to fully capture the amount of damage that starlings cost U.S. agriculturalists annually. One well cited study in 2000 estimated that number to be $800 million. More recent studies suggest that this is likely a gross underestimate.
5
Infrastructure
The starling is highly adapted to living in human environments. Starlings will often utilize houses and other structures as nest/roost sites, causing damage through nest building by clogging vents, causing fire hazards, and damage via feces droppings.
3
Cultural
Starlings are considered a nuisance by most people that interact with them, both in urban and agricultural settings. Starlings also pose a substantial risk to aircrafts due to their body density and flocking behavior.
2
Health
Starlings host a sweet of diseases that are transmittable to humans: Salmonella, histoplasmosis, Chlamydiosis, C. psittaci, West Nile virus, and E. coli. Understanding the role of starlings in spreading these diseases to humans is not well understood.
1
Benefit
Notes
Score
Ecological
0
Agricultural
0
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
0
Health
0
Total
26
Ability to Respond
Ease of Response
Notes
Score
Detection
Starlings are a fairly well-known species that is easy to detect in flight due to its body and wing proportions.
1
Control
Starlings are an invasive, exotic species and can be lethally removed at any time.
1
Tools in Place
Notes
Score
Entry
As per CDFW code, it is unlawful to import any birds from the Family Sturnidae (starlings and mynas or mynahs). However, starlings are throughout CA and extirpation is extremely unlikely.
0
Control
Starlings can be hazed with frightening devices, shot, or trapped. Modified Australian crow traps are commonly used when available.
1
Outreach
Starlings are a fairly well-known bird, but with such limited control options, outreach would have little impact on their density.
