Observation by Tim Thomas:
European Starlings at Healthy Communities Building (HCB). Starlings are new to Alaska per my very abbreviated search on the internet.
Tammy Davis, Invasive Species Program Coordinator with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game writes:
Thanks for sharing this report of starlings in Anchorage. European starlings are quite a topic of conversation this spring. As you may know, starlings are considered “deleterious exotic wildlife” by the Department of Fish and Game, and thus, there are no bag limits, and no closed season for hunting them. It is illegal to intentionally feed them or to feed them as a result of negligence. If you know of someone feeding the starlings, you can let me know and I’ll contact the Fish and Wildlife Troopers to enforce state regulations. The use of poison for taking deleterious exotic wildlife is legal within a building, vessel, vehicle, etc. as long as the pesticides are used in compliance with DEC pesticide use regulations.
If you would like to have someone control the starling problem I am aware of two options:
Thanks for reporting invasive species to the LEO network! - Tammy
Verena Gill writes:
"They are now a permanent fixture in midtown as well as in Kodiak City"
Moses Tcheripanoff writes:
It is difficult to confirm the species because of backlighting. The European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is an invasive species of bird, established in New York City around 1890. The European starling has been nominated by the Invasive Species Specialist Group to the "100 World's Worst" invaders (Lowe et al. 2004, in Linz et al. 2007). Their current range expands across North America, including Alaska, and down to the Bahamas, Central America, Yucatan Peninsula, Puerto Rico, and Cuba (Feare, 1984 in Linz et al., 2007).
According to the the Cornell Lab of Ornithology eBird observation platform, the first observation of European Starlings in Alaska occurred in Sitka on June 30, 1967. In Anchorage, the first sighting was reported on May 27, 1968. The introduction of invasive species has a variety of consequences, including disease and habitat encroachment. In March of 2016, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game set up traps to catch flocks of starlings, reducing their numbers before they force native bird species from nesting spots, and threaten crop production from feeding activity. Read more from Alaska Public Media. European Starlings may also carry a variety of diseases that can impact humans, livestock, and other bird species. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Wildlife Research Center outlines the disease potential, and other impacts, of the European Starling introduction to the US. Read their paper, "European Starlings: A Review of an Invasive Species with Far Reaching Impacts." Source: Sialis - All About Starlings | Pest Products - Starlings,
This observation has been shared with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game.
Resources:
Invasive Species Reporting – If you are interested in reporting what you believe to be an invasive plant or animal, take a look at ADF&Gs invasive species reporter website. Your reports are important; include as much complete and detailed information as you're able. Upload digital photos, if you have them. Pictures really help us identify what you saw. All reports go to ADF&G and ADNR invasive species coordinators. Source: Alaska Department of Fish and Game
European Starlings and Their Control – Handbook -
European starlings are not protected by federal law and in most cases, not by state law. Laws vary among states, however, so check with state wildlife officials before beginning a control program. In addition, state or local laws may regulate or prohibit certain control techniques such as shooting or the use of toxicants. Source: Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management (ICWDM)
