Introduced Species

Pages: 
12
Printer friendly version
European Starling. Richard Cannings.

European Starling.

Bird sound
This is a photograph of a European Starling perched on a shrub, with an audio clip beside the image.
Although fewer animal species than plants have been brought into North America, their effects on the native ecosystems have been just as significant.

The European Starling, which arrived in the province in the 1940s, has strong ties to cities and agricultural areas in Europe, and it was immediately successful in similar habitats here. In fact, it performs valuable ecological services in those sorts of places, where few native species have prospered. Starlings probably wouldn't be considered pests in British Columbia were they not aggressive, hole-nesting birds. The arrival of this bird coincides with the decline of native hole-nesting species such as Lewis' Woodpeckers, Western and Mountain Bluebirds, and Purple Martins, with which it vigorously competes for the limited number of nesting cavities.

Gray Squirrel, black colour phase. Richard Cannings.
This is a photograph of a side view of Gray Squirrel in the black colour phase.
The Gray Squirrel plays a similar role. Introduced to southwestern British Columbia from eastern North America, it energetically preys on bird eggs and young and garden plants, and may negatively affect native squirrel populations by out-competing them. The Gypsy Moth, an invader from both Europe and Asia, has devastated forests in eastern North America. Infestations periodically appear in urban areas of the south coast, and insecticide spraying programs are invoked to control its potential spread.
Gypsy Moth female with egg mass. Dion Manastyrski.
This is a photograph of a female Gypsy Moth with an egg mass on the surface of a green leaf.
Some introduced species are so benign and fit into their surroundings so well that they apparently don't disturb the ecosystem at all. For example, the California Quail, once introduced for hunting, almost seems like a native species.
California Quail. Stephen Cannings.

California Quail.

Bird sound
This is a photograph of a California Quail, with an audio clip beside the image.
Introduced Species - 
12