STARLINGS

Starlings are an introduced and invasive species who outcompete all our native birds who nest in cavities. They are smart and prolific birds who live in large flocks avoiding predation through sheer numbers. These large flocks create a huge mess of feces and wasted food where they feed during the day and roost at night. Due to their gregarious nature, disease is quickly spread from one individual to another and to our native birds. Starlings create human and livestock health and safety hazards by spreading disease. They create over 1.5 million dollars of damage every year to grain and fruit. They congregate around feed lots and feeding units, contaminating livestock foods. A USDA survey in 2009 was conducted which showed that dairies with starlings has a 38% increase in veterinary bills than dairies without.

Large groups of them also create safety hazards for airplanes. Blackbird and starling strikes caused $9 million in damage to civil aircraft from 1990-2018. USDA removed an average of 37,549 starlings annually from IA between 2011 and 2015 but the population in Iowa is still estimated to be 1.3 million. Click here to learn more about starlings. If you have a starling problem, please consult with us.