If you’ve visited Ravensbeard in recent weeks, you’ve probably heard a chorus of insistent cries demanding, “Feed me!” The source of all that commotion is likely a group of European Starling chicks, well known for their loud and persistent requests for food.
These youngsters arrived at Ravensbeard as nestlings—birds less than three weeks old that are still largely dependent on their parents. Here at Ravensbeard, dedicated volunteers step into that role, becoming surrogate parents and providing frequent feedings from dawn to dusk. The birds you may be hearing in your own backyard, however, are probably fledglings. Starlings grow remarkably fast, leaving the nest just 21 days after hatching. By that time, they are fully feathered and nearly the size of an adult. Fledglings are easy to recognize by their grayish-brown plumage, wide yellow mouths, voracious appetites, and constant peeping as they follow their parents in search of their next meal.
European Starlings are considered an invasive species in North America and have had a significant impact on many native birds. Their aggressive competition for nesting cavities has displaced species such as Eastern Bluebirds, woodpeckers, and other cavity-nesting birds. Although starlings consume large numbers of insects, including many agricultural pests, their enormous flock sizes and competitive behavior can create substantial ecological and agricultural challenges. As a result, European Starlings are not protected under federal wildlife laws in the United States.
Still, it could be argued that starlings receive an unfair share of the blame. After all, they did not arrive here on their own. In 1890 and 1891, members of the American Acclimatization Society intentionally released approximately 80 to 100 European Starlings in New York City's Central Park. The group's leader, Eugene Schieffelin, reportedly hoped to introduce every bird species mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare to North America.
The “experiment” was astonishingly successful. From that small founding population, European Starlings have expanded across the continent. Today, their numbers exceed 200 million birds, and they can be found from coast to coast, including Alaska. Love them or loathe them, starlings have become one of the most successful—and recognizable—birds in North America.