The control of gray starling (Sturnus cineraceus) roost using their distress call

Abstract

Since 1985 a flock of gray starlings (Sturnus cineraceus) has roosted annually from June to October at Doho Park, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture. In the summer of 1994 all the birds were repelled from the site after their distress call was presented through a loudspeaker on five consecutive evenings. The birds then constructed roosts at several new sites including a park and street trees within 5.2km from the original site. The majority of these roosts did not persist for more than one month, except for roosts in tulip trees (Liriodendron tulipifera) planted along a street running beside the park which were occupied for 3 months. Roosting sites in the tulip trees were separated into smaller aggregations.