Winged Wednesday - Invasive Birds

Just like our yards succumb to invasive plant species, they can also be inviting invasive birds species. Three common invasive include the: House Sparrow, Rock Pigeon, and the Starling.

These birds are all actually pretty different from one another, but they also share some remarkable traits.

The Rock Pigeon is very common in urban and suburban communities, in rural areas you can find these birds as well, sometimes living under interstate overpasses. Rock Pigeons are highly adaptable birds who do well in areas with a good amount of human traffic. If there are human hand outs they are happy to take them. They are the overseas cousins of the Mourning Dove and are more widely spread. They can be found pretty much everywhere around the world. Wherever humanity thrives, pigeons thrive as well.

The House Sparrow is another bird very commonly found around human habitation. This sparrow is an old world sparrow (Click here for a list of American Sparrows). They are fairly large for sparrows and not shy around feeders. They prefer to nest in cavities will displace native birds such as Black Capped Chickadees, Eastern Bluebirds, Tree Swallows or House Wrens from bird houses. They are known to feed in large groups and can clean out bird feeders rapidly.

Starlings are fairly intelligent, problem solving birds. In many ways they remind me of our native blackbirds. During the cold winter months, when my yard is without Common Grackles, Brown Headed Cowbirds, and Red Winged Blackbirds, it is also Starling free. Starlings like House Sparrows are not shy around feeders, and they compete with native cavity nesting birds for nest sites.

In short each of these species have developed the ability, skills, and diets to succeed around people. They often enjoy food like bread, and in urban areas they may constitute much of the visible wildlife.

Here are some steps you can take to control invasive bird species.

Don't feed them.

1. Make sure they don't have access to food garbage.

2. Don't feed them in the park or in your yard.

3. Don't use cheap seed mixes. Purchase individual seeds instead like Striped Sunflower or Safflower.

4. Consider investing in specialized feeders, for example there are suet feeders which only expose the cake on the underside.

Don't house them.

1. Be mindful of what birds are nesting your nest boxes. While it's illegal to disturb the nest of a native bird, invasive species are not given the same federal protections. (Note you should check any local ordinances as well.)

2. Like the point above, check also on or around your house, in your gutters, etc. These birds tend to be content enough to nest near human activity. This should not be tolerated. (Like the point above, you will need to mindful of native bird and local ordinances.)

3. Non lethal repellent systems can be constructed or purchased, as well as lethal options such as poison or trapping. There are even businesses which may offer pest control services for large problems like roosting starlings.(One more warning about checking local ordinances.)

Go native

Exclude invasive species by promoting native species. Try planting native plants which the native birds can feed from, nest in, etc. Make your yard a little less "human-y" and little more wild. You may find that you don't even need bird feeders anymore to attract birds.