European Starling, Photograph by Daniel Taieb, Flickr
Introduction
In New Jersey there are five invasive bird species that threaten ecosystems through the state. Those species are the mute swan, house sparrow, house finch, brown headed cowbird and the European starling. The European starling is the bird highlighted on this map. The orgaization that is credited with this information is Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science (MATES) out of Manahawkin, NJ.
Data
The map shows the population density of the European starling in Madsion, NJ. The light purple circles indicated a smaller population of starling in the area. As the circles get darker, the greater the amount of birds in that area. The data collected is from a bird watching group called the “eBirders”. The site is a way for bird watchers to document their findings.
Map
Results
The results of the project have been very promising with the decline of European starlings. The average percent decrease in starling population from 2021 to 2022 is 76.79%. The drastic decrease in the populations could be from many things and one being the control efforts for this invasive species. The New Jersey government has been trying to come up with ways to decrease the population as efficiently and humanely as possible.
Conclusion
The reasoning for the decrease in population could be caused by many other things that are not in result from government actions. Birds can obtain many disease that are infectious to big flocks that European starling travel in. Also predators becoming more aware of the starlings has food considering these birds are not a native species. The one thing that is not to blame for the decrease in starling sightings is the decrease in “eBirders”. Since 2021 the amount of “eBirders” which has increased by 97,000 people.
About the Data
The information used for this project done by Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science (MATES) was cited by the United States Department of Agriculture where the data collected was done by Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.
The data collected for this project was found through a social networking group of bird watchers known as the “eBirders”. The data collected is through community scientist to help the betterment of the ecosystems in their local communities. Similar to the goals of the Borough of Madison who is working on making a more sustainable town.
