Most Invasive Birds - Starlings, Bulbuls, and Mynahs

This list is called "100 of the World's Worst Invasive Alien Species", and it's composed of the worst invasive offenders. Mosquitoes, goats, tree diseases, etc. There are exactly three birds on the list.

Common Starling - one of the most numerous birds in the world, the Common Starling has been intentionally introduced to different parts of the world to control agricultural pests. The Starlings are adaptable omnivores, so they became an agricultural pest on their own. An unexpected danger they pose to native wildlife is that they nest in tree cavities. There are only so many tree cavities to go around, and with an estimated 140 million Common Starlings in the United States, there are many fewer cavities available.

Red-vented Bulbul - an upstart on this list, the Red-vented Bulbul does not have the same wide distribution. Yet. But it made the list because of its ability to spread alongside humans on islands. So many of the world's endangered species live on islands. If they are crowded out of this tiny range, there is nowhere else for them to go. You may not have seen one yet, but this may be an invasive species in your area in the future.

Common Myna - a bird with very little intentional transport, the Common Myna has nevertheless spread to many parts of the world. It's adaptable and eats whatever food is around. They also nest in cavities, taking those valuable nesting sites. And Common Mynas sometimes eat eggs and chicks from other species of birds.

As far as I can tell, there's not much we can do about these invasive species. They are tenacious, adaptable, and successful, which is why they are a problem in the first place. If you know of any successful invasive species controls, let me know.

Copyright

//

New animal videos every Friday. Life is AWESOME. Learn why!

Thanks for watching! You're awesome!

[TheWildlifeBrothers]

I think people tend to overlook the fact that birds can be invasive species too, but it’s hard to overstate the severity of the impact these species are having in some regions. On one hand I find these birds to be impressive and pretty to look at, but on the other I would rather see the native biodiversity of ecosystems preserved. You did a great job covering these birds and explaining why they have created such a foothold around the world, nice work Steve!
- Harrison and Evan

[GeoZoo-official.]

Both the Starling and the Mynah are part of the same families, and both are really cool and they have a lot more in common that you’d think. They’d make a great vs video! Here in UAE, there are tons of Indian Hill Mynahs, and they’re invasive too. They’ve taken over both the cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. I love seeing them during a walk in the park, but what I also see is birdseed on the floor left out to feed any park birds. This shows that these mynahs not only adapt to any environment they’re in, but also have active support from humans to do so. I’m sure the people feeding them are unaware of the damage they cause. This is why I started posting videos, and I respect people who do this as well. It’s something to admire, the resilience of omnivorous birds. It’s the same story with crows, and sparrows. Important video, and well done!

[animaleducationwithcoleshi]

Great video! Hawaii is a place that is losing their native birds and the islands are becoming home to a large number of non-native birds. Really enjoyed this video.

[pepper]

If they hadn't been introduced in the first place, they wouldn't be constantly poisoned. Rather like the rabbits in Australia and the thousands of camels that are shot from choppers there every year it's ridiculous. One would think that there would be a use for them, there's enough land in the Australian bush.

[FalconfromRF]

About myna poisoning in Samoa.
"Banded rails and Polynesian trillers were observed eating toxic bait and carcasses were
found."
"Note that rivers associated with increasing Cl concentrations follow a different distribution pattern than those of the other elements just mentioned, with incidences of increasing Cl concentrations being more evenly distributed around the perimeter of the island (Table 7). This distribution is especially similar to that of two species of introduced myna birds inhabiting the coastal urban areas and plantations on the island. Introduced to Upolu Island, the myna bird is considered a threat to indigenous wildlife including endangered and conserved birds, and is the subject of avid extermination by use of the avicide DRC-1339 (Starlicide) [39, 40]. Starlicide is acutely toxic to myna birds, and though it has other specific avian targets, including gulls, it has a wide toxic net to other families of birds and to some mammals, and is acutely toxic to aquatic invertebrates and some fish [41]. While aquatic environmental toxicity testing has only been performed in freshwater settings, marine invertebrates and fish are also likely susceptible."

[chuengueyhwang]

Thanks for the wonderful video, watched it with great pleasure, Have a nice day! 👍🏼 A new friend

[pepper]

How many instects to starlings eat? Or is it that they eat other things, like rice, wheat and corn? Do they?

[andreameigs]

We need starling feather hats. That will extirpate them real quick.

[FalconfromRF]

With bulbuls impact on biodiversity is just theory, but, they are burden for gardeners (as they spoil flowers and steal fruits).
However, all three birds also eat insect pests, so, efforts to control them may cause increase of insecticide use if they are successful.

[Ecotasia]

Preventing new invasions is really important, it is is very hard to remove species that have fully invaded an ecosystem

[mcalexander]

If we all do our part, we can control these.

[uppensai]

I live in India and I see a lot of mynas they are thriving more than pigeons where I live