The Department of Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has geared up annual surveillance and control efforts for starlings, reminding farmers and residents along the State’s south coast to be on the alert.
Starlings are again being detected in south-eastern parts of the State through DPIRD’s annual starling management program, following a busy response during the 2023-24 season.
DPIRD research scientist Susan Campbell said community reports played a vital role, with a breeding pair and their nest of hatchlings recently located and removed from an uninhabited house on a property east of Esperance, thanks to a valued report from a local landholder.
“This is concerning, as it is the first time in more than a decade that starlings have been discovered breeding on the south coast,” Dr Campbell said.
“Starlings are a significant threat to WA’s agricultural, social, environmental and cultural assets, causing damage to high-value fruit crops - especially stone fruits and grapes - and consuming high volumes of livestock feed.”
DPIRD runs an ongoing trapping and surveillance program in the south-east of the State to prevent the encroachment of the pest birds from eastern Australia.
The program extends west from the South Australian border for approximately 400 kilometres and covers 300km along the south coast between Cape Arid and Hopetoun.
Surveillance and control efforts increased in 2023, following much higher-than-average numbers of birds being trapped in WA.
“DPIRD officers are regularly checking more than 140 starling lure traps across the area,” Dr Campbell said.
“The habitat area in WA that suits them is immense, so DPIRD is calling on the local community to assist, particularly in spring and summer when there are more starlings arriving in WA.
“We urge local landholders, community groups, agricultural producers, ranger groups – anyone who has eyes on the ground in regional areas, to report suspected starling sightings.
“Detection of this breeding pair was due to the keen eye of a local landholder, highlighting how valuable community reports can be.
“If people can send in photos or videos as well, that greatly helps us verify the reports.”
Starlings are small to medium sized birds. They have distinctive glossy black feathers with an iridescent green and purple sheen. From a distance they can look plain black.
The pest may be seen perched on livestock or nesting in abandoned buildings, farm sheds, machinery and rubbish tips.
Starlings are aggressive birds and can form very large flocks that move, feed and roost together.
Suspect bird sightings, particularly in the Hopetoun and Esperance areas, should be reported to the DPIRD’s Pest and Disease Information Service (08) 9368 3080 or email padis@dpird.wa.gov.au, or through the department’s MyPestGuide® Reporter app.
More information on starlings is available from the DPIRD website www.agric.wa.gov.au/birds/biosecurity-alert-common-starling
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