#723: Starling

Whilst there are quite a few different species of Starling, the most widely known is the European Starling, aka the "rat with wings". The European Starling is native to Europe, but has been introduced across the world for pest control, as he enjoys a diet of grubs and insects. However, he has become the pest in America (North and South), Australia, South Africa, Fiji, New Zealand and a number of other islands. Firstly, Starlings are flock birds, gathering in large numbers to decimate crops. They are also colony breeders and nest in cavities, which leads to them taking up residence in the eaves of houses. In the UK and Ireland, Starlings are on the decline and they are a protected species.

If you live in North America, you can blame Willian Shakespeare for the Starling. They were introduced to New York because the American Acclimitization Society wanted to introduce all birds mentioned in Shakespeare's plays. They now range from Alaska down to Central America.

Only three birds make the "top #100 invasive pests" list, and they are the Common Starling, the Indian Mynah and the Red-vented Bulbul.

If anyone has any tips on how to dissude starlings from nesting in your house's roof cavities, please let me know. We are currently playing landlord to at least three starling families and whilst I can cope with the scratching noises and the shrilling chicks, I do not really wish to encourage this continued behaviour due to the mess and other potential damage.

#706: Snail

The Snail, like the Slug, is a Gastropod Mollusc. They are characterised by the presence of a protective shell, large enough to retereat into. There are many different species of Snails, some not particularly closely related. They can be found in a wide range of habitats: from the oceanic depths, to freshwater ponds, and in almost every terrestrial environment. Many species of terrestrial Snails, like this common garden snail, favour a vegetarian diet, and can be quite destructive on crops and gardens. Others - such as the Rosy Snail - are carnivorous. The Snail's shell is made from calcium, and they are not infrequently found on the sides of houses, where they graze on the stucco. This is not too much of a problem with the regular garden snail,  which is fairly small, but the African giant snail - the size of a mouse - can cause damage.

Other species of snails:
Oahu Tree Snail: Critically endangered, predated on by Rosy Snail.
Dlinzi Pinwheel: Critically endangered, habitat destruction.

#678: Potato Beetle

The Potato Beetle loves potatoes, and is a major pest on the crops. He originated in Colorado, but has now spread across the US, Europe and Asia. Both adults and larvae defoliate the plants. Females may lay up to 800 eggs. He is quite resistant to pesticides.

#641: Rat

Rats are medium-sized rodents, most commonly represented by the Rattus Genus. This fellow, the Black Rat, is one of the most known. Along with his cousin the Brown Rat, he has colonised much of the world. These "true" Rats are generalists and scavengers, happy to co-exist with humans and taking advantage of our wasteful habits. Both originated in Asia, but migrated with humans, stowing away on ships and inside cargo. Where the two species co-habit, it is the Brown Rat that generally dominates. The Black prefers warmer climates and leads a more arboreal existence. Both are invasive species and have caused massive damage to biodiversity on islands upon which they have been introduced.

#614: Perch

The Nile Perch is a large freshwater fish, measuring up to 2m in length. He is native to parts of Africa, and has been introduced to other other parts. A voracious and fierce predator, he feeds on small fish, including his own species. When this species was introduced to Lake Victoria, it proved an ecological disaster, devouring the native cichlids before moving onto smaller prey. The establishment of large fishing industries also affected the local human populations and has caused further environmental damage.

Creature Feature #524: Nutria

The Nutria, or coypu, is a semi-aquatic rodent of South America. It is not to be confused with the unrelated otter (Nutria nutria). Due to her thick, water-resistant hair, the Nutria was popular in the fur industry. When her popularity declined, captive animals were released into the wild. Thus populations have become established in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Here her tendency to dig into river banks and devour all plant matter has marked her as an invasive pest.

Creature Feature #489: Mynah

And at last - the end of the Ms! Oh, what a journey that has been... now to decide which of the 40-odd critters I drew should go in the book, as it will only take up to 37...

Mynah is a general term given to Indian and Asian members of the Starling Family. They follow an omnivorous diet, foraging on the ground for fruit, invertebrates and the occasional small vertebrate, egg or nestling. Some species are renowned for their ability to mimic sounds, including human speech, and the Hill Mynah is one of the best mimics in the bird kingdom - on par with the African Grey Parrot.  Mynahs nest in tree cavities, aggressively defending - and even stealing - them from other species. Partnerships are monogamous, and some species are believed to pair for life.

The illustrated species is one of the few birds that I dislike. He is an Indian Mynah, an omnivorous, aggressive bird of the tropics. Native to India, he has been introduced to eastern Australia (where he competes with the native honeyeater, the Noisy Miner, an unrelated bird with a somewhat similar personality and appearance), Florida, Hawaii, South Africa, Madagascar, parts of Eurasia and many of the Islands (Indian, Pacific and Atlantic). Populations also exist in northern New Zealand, where they destroy the eggs and chicks of the native birds. He is considered one of the #100 invasive pests, along with the red-vented bulbul and the starling.

Sadly, when one of my co-workers went to Fiji, I asked her to let me know what birds she saw and the only two species she identified were the Indian Mynah and the Red-vented Bulbul. Both co-exist well with humans.

I will be doing a seperate entry for my favourite mynah - the Rothschild (Bali) Mynah - at a later date.

Creature Feature #483: Mouse

Whilst there are thirty known species of Mice, the most commonly known is the House Mouse. This little rodent is native to Eurasia, but has been introduced to most of the world. Mice are voracious breeders, capable of 5-10 litters per year. She is ready to breed at six weeks of age, and wild mice generally live for about a year. During courtship, the male sings to the female with high-pitched, ultrasonic calls. House Mice have been domesticated and are frequently kept as pets. Their social structures are related to the availability of food. If food is available in quantity, large colonies form with a rigid hierarchy. Where less food is available, mice form individual territories.