BrokenWing Chronicles
The Starling, Part 1

"The starling is one of the most effective bird enemies of terrestrial insect pests in this country. More than half (57 percent) of the annual food of the adult starling consists of animal matter, including insects, millipedes, spiders, mollusks, a few crustaceans, and bits of suet and carrion. In April and May such food constitutes more than nine-tenths of the bird's diet, and even in February, when the opportunities for obtaining animal food are few, it forms more than 28 percent of the total. Nearly three-fourths of the animal food of the starlings, or more than 42 percent of its entire diet, consists of insects. October is the month of greatest consumption of insects, when they form nearly 58 percent of food, but in June, August, September, and November they also provide more than half of the starling's sustenance.

Nearly half the starling's insect food consists of beetles –– weevils, ground beetles, and plant-feeding scarabaeids predominating. Conspicuous among such items is the clover-leaf weevil, a European pest imported into the Eastern States. The starling must be classed as one of the most effective bird enemies of the Japanese beetle. Other beetles eaten by starlings are wireworms and leaf beetles, among which was the Colorado potato beetles. Grasshoppers and crickets furnish about an eighth of the yearly food of the adult starling. From August to November these insects form the bulk of the animal matter taken. When hayfields are being cut and raked in the latter part of August and early in September, flocks of young starlings obtain practically all of their sustenance from these insects, supplementing it with wild black cherries and elderberries. Conspicuous among the grasshoppers eaten were the red-legged locust and others of the same genus.

The terrestrial feeding habits of the starling limit the variety of caterpillars eaten, but this restriction has permitted the bird to distinguish itself as a most effective enemy of that notorious pest, the cutworm. The European corn borer also has not been overlooked by the starling.

From the viewpoint of the farmer the insect-feeding habits of the starling leave little to be desired. In its diet are some of the worst pests of garden and field. These it takes in surprisingly large quantities during the growing season, and even in winter it eats many hibernating individuals.

Cultivated cherries form 2.66 percent of the adult starling's annual diet, but, of course the consumption of such food is restricted to June and July when it forms approximately 17 and 15 per cent, respectively. Some idea of the extent of the starling's activities may be gained by comparison with the food habits of the robin. From the examination of 1,236 stomachs, it has been found that the robin feeds on cultivated fruit about twice as much as does the starling, and during June and July, robins obtain about 24 and 23 percent, respectively of their food from cultivated cherries.

As in the case of men, however, who are often judged by the company they keep, the starling has been accused of deeds perpetrated largely by the species with which it associates. Not only is it generally accredited with eating as much corn as the grackle and the red-winged blackbird, an assumption that has been disproved, but many farmers confuse it with these species, with the result that flocks of juvenile redwings are often considered to be starlings and their depredations charged against them. Corn formed 0.77 of 1 percent of the yearly food of starlings. By far the largest part of the corn eaten by starlings is waste grain obtained during winter and early spring.

The demand of food (insects) by nestlings is greatest during May, June and July, a time when growing crops are benefited most by a suppression of their insect enemies. Few birds are more voracious than young starlings, and it requires the most strenuous efforts of the naturally active parents to supply the constant needs of their offspring. More than 95 percent of the nestling's food is animal matter, largely insects. Cutworms are especially attractive to the young birds, caterpillars as a group forming more than 38 percent of their diet.

Most of the starling's habits are either beneficial to man or of an economically neutral character. Field observation has established the fact that the time spent by starlings in destroying crops or in molesting other species of birds is extremely short compared with the endless hours they spend searching for insects or feeding on wild fruits. There is no question that the influence of the European Starling in the United States is beneficial. As a destroyer of such pests as the clover-leaf weevil, the Japanese beetle, May beetles, cutworms, and grasshoppers, it is even more energetic than some of our protected native birds".

The Link
Diet of The Wild European Starling

Raising for Release

When raising a clutch of baby starlings or sparrows for release, the diet and feeding is the same as for baby starlings which will be kept as pets. However, the difference in raising for release is that you must not handle them except only if absolutely necessary! Do not interact with the baby birds as you would with a pet bird. It is very easy for a baby starling to imprint on its caretaker, and a tame bird would have its chances of surviving in the wild greatly decreased. If you have a single baby under two weeks of age, (imprinting takes place between 7 and 14 days of age), it needs to be given to a rehabber or someone who will raise it as a pet, for a single bird cannot be raised without imprinting on its caretaker. Baby birds do not need to be taught how to fly, but after they are flying it is important to give them a large area to practice in, and lots of free flight time, so that they can build up the muscles needed for a successful release into the wild. If you plan to release your babies they do need to be exposed to the song of their species. Please click here to learn how baby birds learn their song.
Song Learning in Birds


The Link
Baby Starling Care: precise information on caring for wild baby birds

__________________

When all is done that is asked from me and I can fly no higher, I pray this day his hand extends to welcome home a flyer.
Author : http://www.pigeonrescue.com/
Website:http://pigeonworld.informe.com/index...e3a2a754004832
Watch: http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...29577913622678
Sign: http://www.all-creatures.org/alert/alert-20070124.html
E-Mail tallship30@yahoo.com

BrokenWing Chronicles
The Starling, Part 2

Release Criteria
A good rehabilitator agonizes over the following release criteria. You should be losing sleep like the rest of us, if you haven't met each of
the requirements. If you answer no to any of the following (with the exception of appropriateness for species), you should seriously
reconsider your decision to release.


* Is it cautious of all humans and pets? (Death is imminent if it approaches either out of desperation or hunger)
* Is it in 100% physical condition (no handicaps or missing limbs) or has fully compensated for it's "imperfections"? (completely recovered
from any infections, and is parasite and mite free)
* Has it been acclimated outdoors for at least two weeks?
* Has it been reared and socialized with others of it's species? (Improper socialization will result in rejection, or attacks from members of
it's own species.)
* Is it familiar with the release site? (Soft releases: animal has been housed in the area which it will be released. Can return to cage for
protection and food if necessary. Is familiar with the day and evening activity of other wildlife in the area.)
* Has it been provided the proper diet with necessary supplements (protein, carbos, fat)? (Improper ratios of calciumhosphorus can
result in fractures following release) (If it's body can't sustain the imminent bumps, falls and collisions that occur during the first week of
release, it won't survive)
* More importantly, do you know what the proper ratios of protein, carbohydrates, fat, calciumhosphorus are for that species? (shame on
you)
* Has it had access to it's natural foods and learned how to forage during captivity? (there are no rodent blox or Esbilac in the wild; does
your opossum know to look under rotten logs for bugs?)
* Is it familiar with natural substances and occurences it will find after release? (will release be the first time it experiences blowing leaves,
rain, etc.?) (Do your squirrels know that not all branches will hold their weight and could snap out from underneath them?)
* Is the release environment appropriate to the species?
* Have you evaluated the release site for possible overpopulation of same species or high predator or roaming domestic pet activity?
(What are the animal's chances that it will be chased out of area by it's own species or attacked by a cat; are there large numbers of birds
of prey?)
* Is the time of release appropriate to the species? (bunnies: pre-dusk; herons: just before high tide; opossums: evenings when alert;
squirrels: mid-afternnon; songbirds: when their wild counterpart species are most active)
* Will a backup food source be available for an extended period of time?
* Is it familiar with the materials and sites it should seek for shelter and protection in the wild? (will your bunny run out in the open, or under
brush when frightened? Are you providing additional nesting boxes for squirrels at the release site? )
* Does it know not to stay out in the open? (was it given adequate covered areas in cage to hide?)
* Are the weather conditions favorable for at least 5 days? (no rain, high winds or temperature extremes)
* Is the community receptive to that species? (releasing domestic ducks on a community lake without permission is a problem waiting to
happen)
* Is the animal mature and cautious enough for release? (not all animals emotionally mature at the same rate; being "brave and outgoing"
is a characteristic that immature juveniles have which will inevitably put them in a dangerous situation)
* Are you releasing it because the animal is ready? (or because you want to go on vacation, have guests coming, are burnt out,
etc....What makes it ready now that didn't apply before?)
* Has it had an opportunity to hear the distress calls of it's own and other species? (or will it be the only one still sitting around when
everyone else runs for cover?)
* When appropriate, release orphans with an adult of same species.
* When appropriate, release in small groups.



BIRDS


* Have migratory birds had access to view overhead sky and stars?
* Has it had at least two weeks of flight practice?
* Is it waterproofed?
* Are birds of the same species in the area?
* Will it be accepted by it's own species? (male cardinals, mockingbirds, crows, etc., may be chased out of the area by the resident bird or
flock) (swans view an unfamiliar swan as an interloper) (crows, swans, pigeons, etc, should be released in groups)

The Link
Wildlife Rehabber-Release Criteria - General Wildlife Info - Wildlife Info

Please visit this site and read the information provided.
WI Rehabilitation - Wildlife Care - Release
Another very informational site,
Wild Bird Centers of America

If you are currently caring for baby Starlings, please remember this.
We as humans can only do so much, teaching the baby's to forage is something we may not be able to do so well.
By placing the food on the bottom of the cage (per say a dish or bowl) teaches the babies to forage.
Baby birds should be eating on there own for at least 2 weeks prior to release, different species may vary.
Placing the cage outside so the little ones can hear there own kind will help a great deal, for example, "to sing".
A soft release, this is when the rehabber locates other birds of the same species, these birds will help the young to survive.
Please understand, as humans we can only do so much, then its time to release the bird and pray what we have done works, from there on, its up to "mother" and others of the same species to take over.
The "bitter sweet" feeling everyone that reaches out to help endures.
Thank you kindly for helping the little bird to survive, please know, "you done all you can".
Now its time to allow them to go on there own.
Peace
Arty aka BrokenWing

Thanks for this Arty!

Hello Arty, it's nice to meet you, please see the attached video.........
YouTube - Starlings.
I will give more info later, Francine.

Arty, this is my sister! Im so proud of the job she has done with these babies!

I love they way they swarm. It is quite an ominous sight.

Pleased to meet you Francine,
What a fabulous job of rearing those baby Starlings.
They look like they are very healthy.
The Starling is a very intelligent bird capable of speech.

Things you may wish to consider, soon they will be old enough to be released, you may wish to visit your local petshop, or I hear you work for the Home Depot as I do, grab some suet and hang in there cage.
It looks like you are offering Kaytee or baby bird formula as you tube feed.
They will need to begin to see insects and or meal worms on the floor of there cage, high in protein.
I know what your thinking, how to catch insects?
The last thing you want is insects running all over your home, been there and done that before..LOL
I am simply saying, its time to learn them about insects, and what to eat in the wild, you can place the cage outside while offering (insects), I have posted some information above to help you understand what there diet in the wild is.
I have posted many threads concerning there ability to speak, they are really great talkers, you might wish to keep them, if so, they will need a in-flight cage.
Anyways, If you are to release them, to help matters, begin to place the cage outside, avoid direct sunlight, and or half and half so they don't get to hot, this will help them to adjust and learn from other Starlings that maybe near by.
Again, what a great job, I really can't thank you enough.
We are all here to help you if needed.
Arty

Shame on me!
A warm welcome to Parrot Chatter Francine.
Thank you Leigh for introducing me to your sister.

I think the thing I like best about this video is when you say "OK now everybody SIT!"

Maybe they would listen better if said "everyBIRDIE!"