Common Nonnative Birds in South Florida
December 31st, 2021
While many native species of birds are protected by law in Florida, nonnative birds can be removed without any legal restrictions since they damage the natural habitat of native species.
Here, we briefly discuss some of the common nonnative birds found in South Florida and what you can do when they become a nuisance on your property.
Muscovy Ducks
Muscovy ducks are a common destroyer of flower beds and other landscaping features when they seek to store their food. But that isn’t the only thing they negatively affect. Muscovy ducks are known to be rather aggressive and can transmit disease to native waterfowl.
These ducks are nonnative to Florida and can be easily removed with bird control services without legal repercussions.
Starlings
In 1890, William Shakespeare fans imported 100 starlings from England and set them loose in New York City. Now you can find 200 million of them around the U.S., including Southwest Florida.
Starlings can be particularly noisy and obnoxious birds, taking the nesting sites of native species, destroying crops, and spreading diseases like salmonella.
House Sparrows
House sparrows arrived in the U.S. in a similar way to starlings, they were imported by Europeans to eat unwanted insects. Unfortunately, house sparrows got rid of more than just bugs. They are known to threaten and attack over 70 different species of birds that encounter their nesting territory.
You can remove starlings with professional bird removal solutions such as flex track, optical gel, bird netting and bird spikes usually set by a wildlife removal company like Alford Wildlife & Pest Management.
Pigeons
Want to take a stab at who imported pigeons to North America? Europeans. Not to eat bugs this time, but to eat the pigeons as a main dish. Unfortunately, the Europeans didn’t eat enough of them and now it’s been rumored that there are as many pigeons in New York City as there are people.
There is a reason why pigeons are considered sky rats. They carry dozens of diseases including tuberculosis, psittacosis, and salmonellosis. They are simply unsanitary to keep around, so if you have pigeons on your property, you might want to hire bird removal services as soon as possible.
Eurasian Collared Doves
While Eurasian Collared Doves are beautiful, they are a nonnative and invasive species in Florida. They carry diseases that can harm other native wildlife and humans.
These doves can be removed without any legal restrictions, so if you have them on your property, don’t hesitate to call a professional for help.
Fast & Local Nonnative Bird Removal
If you have an issue with pigeons, house sparrows, starlings, or Muscovy ducks on your property, Alford Wildlife and Pest Management can help! Our specialists are trained and equipped to trap, remove, and deter nonnative birds from your property.
Schedule your free inspection today or call us to get started!
