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Starlings and Mynas

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Starlings and Mynas Beneficial Starlings The Eurasian Rose-colored and African Wattled Starlings are believed Starlings to be beneficial due to their insect con­ trol near agricultural crops. Both species establish breeding colonies in and Mynas areas where swarms of locusts and by Susan Congdon, grasshoppers appear. It is believed that Disney's Animal Kingdom, FL they eat enough of these insects to protect food crops. banded and released have been sub­ Pest Starlings? he names starling and myna sequently recovered when found for There are some species of star­ are often used interchange­ sale in Indonesian bird markets. The ling/myna that are considered to be T ably similar to pigeoN. and conversion of forest to agricultural pests. The European Starling and dove. Myna is the Hindi word for star­ land, and deforestation for firewood Common Myna are two examples of ling and is often used for species native and human settlements have greatly this. European Starlings were intro­ to southern and southeastern Asia and decreased their natural habitat. duced to North America and are the southeastern Pacific. Many of the In response to the decreasing wild extremely gregarious. As well as dam­ Asian birds are known as both starlings population, the American Zoo and aging important crops they compete and mynas. Aquarium Association, Jersey Wildlife with native birds for hollows in which Preservation Trust, and the Indonesian to nest. Near Extinction ofthe Bali Myna government have set up a Species Common Mynas, introduced to There are 114 species in the Survival Program (SSP). The main goals many places including Hawaii and sturnidae family. All are from the Old of this program are to study the wild South Africa, are known not only to World. To date five known species of population, protect what habitat is left, damage crops but also to wipe out starling/myna have become extinct. All guard the existing wild population, and populations ofbeneficial insects. Some five of these were island species. develop a captive breeding program to states actually prohibit the ownership Currently there are seven .sturnidae maintain genetic diversity and supple­ of starlings and mynas. California is species that are globally threatened. ment the wild population through the one state that bans all sturnidae Only one ofthese seven, the Bali Myna, release of captive raised birds. species except for the Hill Myna. has a conservation program in place. Though the wild population of Bali Mynas has been difficult to estimate, it has fluctuated dramatically since the 1970s. In 1981 there were estimated to be 250 birds. By 1990 that number had dropped to 15. Due to some birdS being introduced back into the wild, the 1992 figure increased to 55 birds. By 1998 though, the estimated wild population was back down to 14. The number of Bali Mynas in captivity at present is estimated to be 700. There are several reasons for the decline of the wild population. Keeping Bali Mynas as pets in Indonesia has been a tradition for many years. In the 1960s and '70s sev­ eral hundred wild birds were captured and shipped to the U.S. and Europe for the pet trade. Though international trade is now illegal, to possess this species is a sym­ bol of wealth and status in Indonesia. An individual bird will bring 1,000­ 2,000 dollars on the black market in Indonesia. Many of the birds that were Golden-breasted Starlings at Disney's Animal Kingdom. 16 November/December 1999 restricted range. This species frequents Savannah woodland areas. Sexes are visually alike in this species. Emerald Starlings have beet) observed feeding on insects, se,eds, fruits, and black ants. They feed on the ground much more often than Amethyst Starlings. In captivity they have been observed eating ants that were attracted to a nectar feeder. Commercial bird pellets can also be part of the captive diet. Breeding in the wild has not yet been described. It is presumed that tree hollows are used in the wild as they are in captivity. These are lined with green leaves, pine needles, grass, and coconut fibers. Green leaves have been observed playing a significant role in courtship. Eggs are pale blue yvith red-brown blotches. The female incubates the 3-4 ,eggs for 14 days. In captivity, both par­ Amethyst Starlings at the Houston Zoo. ents have been observed .feeding mealworms and crickets to chicks. The Starlings/mynas are popular zoo of fruit, insectivorous bird mix, and chicks leave the nest after 21 days. In birds. The following is an introductory insects. A commercially made bird pel­ several captive instances there has natural history outline on the starling let is often part of the captive diet. been a third adult bird feeding chicks. and myna species that can be found at Chicks are usually raised on live food This would suggest that cooperative Disney's Animal Kingdom. It is not alone. breeding exists among this species meant to be an exhaustive reference Amethyst Starlings nest from 2-6 although this has not been confirmed but only a brief outline to spark more meters above the ground in hollow in the wild. interest in sturnids. Most of these trees. They compete with Pied Barbets species are widely found in zoos and and Grey-headed Sparrows for nest Golden-breasted Starlings in private aviculture. holes. The amount of time the male Lamprotornis regius Amethyst Starling has been observed to contribute to The Golden-breasted Starling is Cinnyricinclus leucogaster nest building varies greatly. Wild birds locally common in Ethiopia, Somalia, Amethyst Starlings are sexually have been reported to use dung to the Eastern Kenya, and Northeastern dimorphic, meaning that the male and exclusion of all other nesting materials. Tanzania. They are commonly found female are physically different in some In captivity, pairs have been observed in pairs to groups of eight in open way. This species is dichromatic which to use primarily leaves as their nest bush country in arid and semi-arid means that the physical difference is the building material. areas. Sexes are visually alike. color of the bird. Throughout Africa, The eggs are pale blue with reddish­ Some fruit is eaten although they south ofthe Sahara, this starling is com­ brown spots more concentrated at the are almost entirely insectivorous. The mon to abundant. In some areas this broad end. In the wild they lay 2-4 egg captive diet may include insects, a species occurs seasonally. Amethyst in a clutch and they are incubated for commercially made pelleted diet, and Starlings are also found on the south­ 12 days. The female usually incubates a commercially made insectivore diet. west border of the Arabian peninsula, the eggs, with both parents feeding the In the wild either natural or aban­ in open woodland areas and riverine chicks. Chicks fledge at 21 days. In cap­ doned barbet or woodpecker hollows forest. tivity the incubation period ranges from in trees are used for nesting. The nest Amethyst Starlings move in large 12-14 days and the nestling period has location ranges from 3-7 meters above groups when trees are producing fruit. varied from 17 -26 days. the ground and is usually lined with Fruits, insects, termites, winged ants, dry grass, feathers, and hair. In captiv­ seeds, and mistletoe berries have all Emerald Starling ity nest-boxes are lined with leaves, been found in stomachs of wild birds. Lamprotornis iris feathers, and moss. This species seldom feeds on the Emerald Starlings range from Eggs are pale greenish-blue with ground, taking insects off branches in Guinea to Mali and Ivory Coast in West small reddish-brown speckles. Wild flight. The captive diet consists mainly Africa. They are common in this clutches consist of 2-6 eggs, with cap- the afa WATCHBIRD 17 tive clutches being slightly larger with clearings. This species is a tree-top holes that they bore themselves in 3-4 eggs. The female incubates the dweller that occurs in pairs to small rotten or dying tree trunks. Colonies eggs for 14 days. The chicks spend 19­ groups. can have up to 100 nests. Nest cavi­ 22 days in the nest. Cooperative breed­ These mynas sometimes eat insects ties are tear-drop shaped with an ing has been observed in which the but are mainly frugivorous. A captive entrance hole of 4 cm in diameter. female parent feeds the chicks and the diet may also includes bird pellets. Dry grasses and leaves are used to other cooperating females feed her. Golden-crested Mynas build their line the nest cavity. Chicks are primarily fed moth and bee­ nests, constructed mainly of grasses, in Eggs are pale blue with fawn and tle larvae in the wild. tree hollows. Eggs are blue-green with brown speckles or reddish-brown brown blotches at the broad end ofthe patches at the broad end. Two eggs Superb Starling egg. The four-egg clutch is incubated make up a clutch and are laid 24 hours Lamprotornis superbus for 14-15 days by the female alone. apart. Both adults take turns incubating Superb Starlings are located from Males help to feed the chicks which for 13-14 days. Both parents feed the Central Tanzania, north throughout fledge at 25-26 days of age. chicks, which fledge at 21-23 days of Kenya, western Uganda, southwestern age. Parents continue to feed the chicks Sudan, southern Ethiopia, and Somalia. Grossbeak Myna for at least five weeks after they leave They are abundant within this range. Scissirostrum dubium the nest. In the wild it appears that there They live in arid country, cultivated Sexes are visually alike. This species is only one chick per nest, though it is areas, lakeshore grasslands, and subur­ occurs on the island of Sulawesi.
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