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Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris |
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Starling numbers peak from January to May, and drop to about half the numbers in October. In the later years of the survey numbers declined more on the northern side of the city than on the southern side. Nest building begins in July, peaks in September and ends by December with dependent young continuing to March. The breeding event takes about 14 to 17 weeks. Often more than one breeding event is included in one breeding record. R=6. BR=4.
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For 16 of the 17 years of the survey the Common Starling was the most common species reported in Canberra gardens. However, numbers have steadily decreased since the beginning until in 1997-98, for the first time, it was displaced by the Galah as the most common species. One factor for this decline may be the increase of a direct competitor, the Common Myna, as well as competition from parrots for nesting hollows. Another factor could be the reduction in irrigation of open areas, such as ovals and playing fields where Common Starlings often forage. 
