1. The Okanagan Similkameen Starling Control Program

2. Presentation Outline Introduction & Background The trapping program
Starling Aware
Research
Questions

3. Introduction Sturnus vulgaris
Native to Europe, SW Asia, N Africa
Most successful NA avian introduction
100 individuals released in 1890
> 200 million in NA

4. A Pilot Trapping Program
2003 Starling Control Program started
Aim: reduce loss/damage to agriculture

5. Today’s Program
2006/2007 a group of producers agreed that the program should continue.
Establish funding through agricultural commodity groups and from the three Okanagan-Similkameen Regional Districts.
Introduce a research component to determine the effectiveness of the program.

6. Trapping 4 Trappers working throughout Okanagan - Similkameen
Starlings trapped and euthanized
By-catch released
Birds are sold to falconers, given to raptor recovery centers

7. Trap Locations
Best locations are feedlots & other cattle operations, hobby farms and landfills

9. Funding for the trapping program 2016
Three Regional Districts in the Okanagan Similkameen $75,000
Agriculture Commodity
Groups (as of Oct 31, 2016) $38,500
BC Grape Growers’ Association
BC Cherry Association
BC Fruit Growers’ Association
BC Tree Fruits Cooperative
North Okanagan Dairy Association

10. Actual Numbers
From 2003 – 2015 the program has captured a total of just under 700,000 birds.
Captures to date in 2016 total another 51,000+

11. Overall Successes
A reduction in the use of propane cannons & other bird scaring devices
A reduction in the cost of bird control measures for producers
A reduction in the amount of bird damage to crops
Interest from other regions

12. Starling Aware Program
An awareness campaign aimed at educating the public, including farm workers, about the value of the trapping program and to encourage the reduction of nesting sites on private properties

14. Research Question Where are the migrant starlings originating?
Trapping occurs year round
No breeding in winter months
Winter population increasing
Increase due to immigration
Where are the migrant starlings originating?

15. Provincial Starling Population
The average number of European starlings counted on all Breeding Bird Survey routes in BC from

16. Regional Winter Starling Population Increasing
Standardized Christmas Bird Counts of starlings in the Okanagan from

17. Research Objectives
Document the seasonal variation in local population
Create a library of chemical signatures
Determine the source(s) of migrants

18. Methods Chemical fingerprinting via trace element analysis
Create a library/database of chemical signatures
Match local birds to database to determine origin(s)

19. Results of the Research
6 reference sites were established
Determined that at the Kelowna reference, birds migrated from the Quesnel region, Grand Forks and South & North Okanagan
40% of the birds were unaccounted for
Recommendation that the research be continued
Completion date April 30, 2017

20. Funding and Acknowledgements for the Research Project
The first two year project
An Industrial Post-Graduate Scholarship from the National Science & Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC);
Partnerships between Thompson Rivers University & UBCO;
The Agriculture Environment & Wildlife Fund
Industry
The current project
The Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems (MITACS)
UBC-O
The Agriculture Environment Initiative
Industry

21. Questions?
Thank you!