The ‘most annoying bird’ in the United States has an interesting backstory
Ah, the European Starling - a bird that elicits mixed emotions from people across North America. While they may not be everyone's cup of tea, there's no denying that they have an interesting backstory.
Before we begin today’s article, let me touch base for all my non-bird lover friends reading this: what is the European Starling, and why do people in the United States seem to hate this bird?
The European Starling
The European Starling is a black bird with a glossy plumage and distinctive iridescent sheen. They are really beautiful, tbh, BUT they’re a prime example of how ‘too much of a good thing is a bad thing’.
Not only are they a relatively a common sight across North America, and therefore probably taken for granted… they’re everywhere. And they are noisy, disruptive birds that are more seen as pests than anything else. Today, there are an estimated 200 million of these birds in North America!!
These birds are highly social and live in large flocks, often performing synchronized aerial displays. With their long, sharp beaks and aggressive behavior, they can be a nuisance to other bird species and to farmers, who often view them as pests.
(On the other hand, the most populous bird in North America is the Rock Pigeon, also known as the Domestic Pigeon or City Pigeon. It is estimated that there are hundreds of millions of these birds in North America, although the exact number is not known. However the difference here is that Rock Pigeons don’t really form huge, disruptive, noisy flocks.)
Anyway despite their reputation as the "most annoying bird," European Starlings are fascinating creatures with a unique backstory!
Why are they so detested?
These birds are often seen as pests due to:
Large flocks: European Starlings tend to flock in large numbers, which can be too loud and overwhelming for some people. Not to mention they poop everywhere!
Agricultural damage: European Starlings can cause significant damage to crops, especially during the winter when they are seeking food. This is also because the European Starlings are NOT native to the U.S. and so they are destroying crops that can’t protect against these birds!
Competition with native birds: As mentioned above, European Starlings are not native to the United States - in fact, they are considered invasive pests. These birds can compete with native bird species for resources, such as food and nesting sites, which can negatively impact native bird populations. :(
Noise pollution: European Starlings are gregarious birds that are really extroverted and LOVE flocking together. So they can be quite noisy, which can be disruptive for some people.
A Love-Hate Relationship
But before we get raise our pitchforks and torches on the European Starling, let's take a step back and appreciate the interesting history of these birds.
You see, European Starlings are not native to North America - they were actually intentionally introduced to the continent in the early 1890s! :O
Just like early American immigrants, these birds came by ship to the ‘New World’
You may know that the United States of America is actually home to Native Americans, but was colonised by European settlers started in the 1600s.
That’s why a lot of cities in the United States are named after cities in Europe! Think of New York (first named New Amsterdam), New Orleans, and more.
Anyway, obviously, these European settlers missed their homeland (of Europe) greatly. A group of bird-crazed immigrants in New York were big, big fans of Shakespeare. Like how I’m a big fan of Taylor Swift!
But what these bird-crazed, homesick settlers did next was nuts: they hatched a crazy plan. They’d ship to New York ALL THE BIRDS mentioned in Shakespeare’s writing, so they could make New York more like home.
These bird-crazed settlers apparently tried doing so with many other bird species - like the nightingale - but most other bird species died during the journey to the States, or simply could not adapt to their new homes.
The bird-crazed settlers didn’t give up, though. And I guess they eventually struck gold: once they set loose 100 European Starlings in Central Park, the population took off! Now, over 100 years later, there are an estimated 200 million European Starlings in North America!
200 million - from just 100 original birds!
However, not everyone was thrilled with this success. As the population grew, so did complaints about the birds. But, hey, you can't please everyone. :P The European Starlings may not be the most beloved birds in North America, but they sure do have an interesting story.
In conclusion, the European Starling may be seen as a nuisance to some, but it's important to remember the interesting backstory of how this species came to be in North America. After all, what's a little bird-brained behavior when you're fulfilling a Shakespearean dream?
And who knows, maybe someday they'll even have a play written about them! Now that would be a Shakespearean tale for the ages.
Just remember, if you're feeling "starr-tled" by these birds, it's only because they're here to "flock-tivate" you!
I hope you liked today’s article!
Nice history lesson! Seems humans have made a lot of similar mistakes over the years. I recently wrote about how weasels were introduced to New Zealand to deal with the rabbit overpopulation. Unfortunately, they liked the native birds better than rabbits, and a whole new, quite serious problem was created.