Appearance

European Starlings are small, chunky with short tails and long slender beaks. Their wings are pointed, making them look like a star when they fly. They are about the size of a blackbird and can live to be up to sixteen years old.

Habitat

• Habitat: European Starlings usually live in towns around people, they use trees, buildings and other structures for nesting.

• Food: Starlings will eat nearly anything they can get their beaks on, although they will focus on insects and other invertebrates when available.

Origin

• European Starlings originate from Europe…

• In the early 1890’s, Shakespeare fanatics wanted America to have all the birds that Shakespeare ever mentioned. So they released 100 Starlings in New York’s Central Square.

Current location

• Starlings can be found in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Asia, Lberia, South Africa, all over North America and even in Mexico over the winter.

What did the ecosystem look like before they arrived here?

• Native birds population were stable before Starlings arrived. They were unmolested in their nests to some extent and were able to eat berries freely.

What the ecosystem looked like after they arrived here.

• The Starlings aggressive nature drives other birds away from feeding areas. They drive birds out of their nests and take them as their own. The Sapsucker birds have shown a steady decline in population because of the Starlings. All other birds seem to be holding there own against them. Starlings are now the major bird population in all of North America.

The problems/impact the organism is having on the ecosystem

• Starlings have a very good reproductive ability, a very high tolerance to parasites, they are extremely adaptable to new environments and make their nests just about anywhere. They have completely overrun our continent and have drove many species out of areas. They have been here long enough to no longer be considered as an invading species.

Possible solutions to address the problem caused

• There are no realistic ways to get rid of the European Starlings in North America. They are too numerous and resilient to do anything about it.

• We could make a conservation effort to preserve the Sapsucker birds.

Interesting facts

• Population of over 200 million in North America.

• Starlings can learn the calls of 20 different species.

• They can Fly up to 48mph.

• The oldest recorded Starling was 15 years 9 months old.