Hort symposium


Disrupt the disrupters


Awareness effort aimed at getting public to participate inmaking life miserable for starlings.


By Susan McIver T


he starling trapping programis well known to growers, but those who spoke with Connie Bielert at theHorticultural Symposiumin Kelowna will also


know about the new Starling Awareness Program. At the symposium, Bielert could be found at the exhibit


jointly sponsored by the B.C. Cherry Council and the Okanagan-Similkameen Starling Control Program. Bielert has beenmanager of the starling control


programsince 2006 and worked in administrative services for the BC Grapegrowers’ Association for over 30 years. “Through public awareness we are encouraging people to


help control starlings by blocking or disrupting starling nesting sites. This will help reduce the number of juveniles which formsmall flocks and are particularly destructive,” Bielert said. In 2013, the project will focus on the City of Penticton


and the Similkameen Valley and in 2014 on two new areas. The project is being funded by the Agricultural


Environment &Wildlife Fund and industry contributions. The AEWF, an Agri-Food Futures Fund program, is


intended to further the environmental sustainability of the agriculture sector while enhancing the viability of the industry. The public awareness campaign includes publicmeetings


and the distribution of information through regional districts, libraries, governmentministries and tourist centres. Bielert is working with the Okanagan Similkameen


Conservation Alliance and the South Okanagan Naturalist Club. “They know waymore about starlings than I do,” Bielert


said. 12


The non-native European starling is one of themost


damaging forces facing agriculture today. They can cause significant losses to growers through


consumption of high value crops such as berries, tree fruits and grapes. It’s estimated that starlings cause crop losses in the


Okanagan Similkameen region ofmore than fourmillion dollars annually. Starlings are also ecologically destructive.


They will aggressively evict native birds fromany suitable


nesting site which results in driving the native birds from their territory and destruction of their chicks and eggs. Starlings are opportunists who establish nests in urban,


suburban and edge habitats such as nooks and crannies in buildings as well as tree cavities. “Kansas City decreased starling populations by 60 percent


in two years through disruption of nesting sites. They have also put in rules in their building codes to eliminate and block potential sites,” Bielert said. To deter starlings fromnesting on your propertymake


needed repairs, for example, replace loose shingles or siding, fix soffits, install commercial vent guards and block tree cavities. Growers can help reduce damage by keeping orchards and vineyards clear of food. Bury unwanted fruit rather


British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Summer 2013


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