European Starling care?

[JCaseyHammond]

Every animal is worth saving, just because there invasive doesn't mean there a terrible species. Some people believe that invasive species that carry mites don't deserve to live, but @KenjiQuacker believes they do and so do I. What about, a Bald Eagle? Do they deserve to live? They carry mites as well, and will kill your chickens if they are living near you. That is worse then a Starling. Just my thoughts, not to be offensive.

Well a hawk did catch and kill one of my muscovies in midair. Hawks are protected by law, but even if they were not, I’d still leave it be. They are apex predators and control their prey species. I don’t know what species are controlled by European starlings.

 

[Weeg]

Starlings help to keep down bugs and pest that eat agriculture, so they are helpful, though in large numbers they are considered "pests". Otherwise, you have a point between the difference between and Eagle and a Starling for sure, but I think the point is more about keeping them alive so they wont get killed. Plus, we brought them to the area as pets, then released them, so we play a huge role in how they became invasive. It kinda makes sense that we try to right out wrong without killing them.

 

[JCaseyHammond]

Starlings help to keep down bugs and pest that eat agriculture, so they are helpful, though in large numbers they are considered "pests". Otherwise, you have a point between the difference between and Eagle and a Starling for sure, but I think the point is more about keeping them alive so they wont get killed. Plus, we brought them to the area as pets, then released them, so we play a huge role in how they became invasive. It kinda makes sense that we try to right out wrong without killing them.

https://lithub.com/how-mozart-changed-my-mind-about-americas-most-hated-bird/

 

[KenjiQuacker]

She wants to do it, because since they are over populating, people kill them, so to keep people from killing them she wants to reduce them. I think that is kinda the point. Plus, endangered species, won't be legal to catch.

Thank you, that's the reason I'm doing it and it's nice to have people understand.

 

[KenjiQuacker]

Well best of luck. It might be worth studying starlings as a school project to find a way to put them more in balance with the environment. I’m old and cranky and about all I can do is shake
my broom at the starlings and blast them with the garden hose
***Edited to add, try asking the University of Washington for an internship to rehabilitate wildlife.

Yeah! I'm working towards getting my wildlife rehabilitation license, so I'd love to do an internship : )

 

[KenjiQuacker]

Starlings help to keep down bugs and pest that eat agriculture, so they are helpful, though in large numbers they are considered "pests". Otherwise, you have a point between the difference between and Eagle and a Starling for sure, but I think the point is more about keeping them alive so they wont get killed. Plus, we brought them to the area as pets, then released them, so we play a huge role in how they became invasive. It kinda makes sense that we try to right out wrong without killing them.

I agree, and I really want to help without killing animals.

 

[Weeg]

I agree, and I really want to help without killing animals.

I think it is a great plan, you really care about wildlife!

 

[KenjiQuacker]

Hi I'm in Europe and where I live there is a invasive bird species, too, the Rose-ringed parakeet. No single kind of parakeet or parrot used to live here or in the surrounding countries naturally.
Today (it's actually winter and cold here) I saw a big flock fly over the fields. Here is a picture of some of them in my parent's garden:View attachment 2510270

These parakeets could get invasive because they were brought here as pets; some escaped their owners (which can always happen accidentally) but sadly also a 'good' part got kicked out by their no more intersted owners.
Regarding your project I think it could be importand to plan taking back in the ones new owners probably at some point want to get rid off again (sadly this will happen as with any other pet - people too often are like that) so they will not just open a window and kick them out especially because they know those birds can survive and do well in the environment. So perhaps planning extra space for grown ups coming back and very clearly giving the option of always taking them back could be woth considering regarding the spirit behind your project.
It is great that you do have a lot experience with wild birds!

That's a great idea! I'll make sure to tell people I sell them to that I'll take them back in if at any point they don't want them anymore. And I have lots of room in my aviary, (no birds in at all yet lol) so I'll have lots of space if I need to keep them. Also, I'm sorry you have those invasive species in your garden, good luck with it

 

[KingD]

Hello there! So this is gonna take a while to explain and it might be confusing, but I'll try my best to explain.

Me and my friend know that starlings are invasive, and legal to kill or to keep in captivity. We really like helping the ecosystem, and we have lots of starlings here in washington. We thought we could go to peoples homes or places with too many starlings and look for nests, then take the babies once they're around 7-14 days old (imprinting age) and hand raise them. This would be helping the ecosystem (even in just a small way) by taking starlings out of the ecosystem without killing them. We've been doing tons of research, and we know the basics, but does anybody have tips or experience in raising baby starlings? If anybody could give me more information on raising them and keeping them as adults, I'd love to hear it!

(edit) I've had lots of experience raising wildlife in the past and I'm currently volunteering at two different wildlife rehabilitation centers, and I have an aviary and a job so I can get enough money to care for Starlings. So I'm pretty sure I'm ready for this lol.

Why would you want to do that? If you really want to have a pet bird then get a parakeet of something.
The whole idea of controlling the breeding of invasive species is not to help the numbers grow bit to reduce them.

Maybe I sound harsh but i just don't see the logic.

 

[Weeg]

That's a great idea! I'll make sure to tell people I sell them to that I'll take them back in if at any point they don't want them anymore. And I have lots of room in my aviary, (no birds in at all yet lol) so I'll have lots of space if I need to keep them. Also, I'm sorry you have those invasive species in your garden, good luck with it

I am very interested to see what you aviary looks like. You may also want to be able to have some smaller, parrot cages or blocked of sections of the aviary for bird you take back in, so that you can quarantine? I really don't know if Starlings develop diseases like chickens, were you have to quarantine. Or if you have to integrate new birds, but that is also something to do research on.