Benefits and problems Common starling

congregating on wires in france



feeding on windfall apple

since common starlings eat insect pests such wireworms, considered beneficial in northern eurasia, , 1 of reasons given introducing birds elsewhere. around 25 million nest boxes erected species in former soviet union, , common starlings found effective in controlling grass grub costelytra zelandica in new zealand. original australian introduction facilitated provision of nest boxes insectivorous bird breed successfully, , in us, pest species, department of agriculture acknowledges vast numbers of insects consumed common starlings.

common starlings introduced areas such australia or north america, other members of genus absent, may affect native species through competition nest holes. in north america, chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, purple martins , other swallows may affected. in australia, competitors nesting sites include crimson , eastern rosellas. role in decline of local native species , damages agriculture, common starling has been included in iucn list of world s 100 worst invasive species.

common starlings can eat , damage fruit in orchards such grapes, peaches, olives, currants , tomatoes or dig newly sown grain , sprouting crops. may eat animal feed , distribute seeds through droppings. in eastern australia, weeds bridal creeper, blackberry , boneseed thought have been spread common starlings. agricultural damage in estimated costing us$800 million annually. bird not considered damaging agriculture in south africa in united states.

the large size of flocks can cause problems. common starlings may sucked aircraft jet engines, 1 of worst instances of being incident in boston in 1960, when sixty-two people died after turboprop airliner flew flock , plummeted sea @ winthrop harbor.

starlings droppings can contain fungus histoplasma capsulatum, cause of histoplasmosis in humans. @ roosting sites fungus can thrive in accumulated droppings. there number of other infectious diseases can potentially transmitted common starlings humans, although potential birds spread infections may have been exaggerated.