The Okanagan Similkameen Starling Control Program

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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+

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 www.googleimages.com

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

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?

Provincial Starling Population The average number of European starlings counted on all Breeding Bird Survey routes in BC from 1972-2009

Regional Winter Starling Population Increasing Standardized Christmas Bird Counts of starlings in the Okanagan from 1991-2009

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

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

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

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

Questions? Thank you!