The birds aren’t seagulls, ravens, crows or magpies all of which are common at landfills.
They’re European starlings.
An invasive species, starlings closely resemble blackbirds and often draw the ire of many birders, farmers and others because they can pose a threat to native bird species and crops. Invasive species are living organisms that are not native to an ecosystem and cause harm.
On farms, starlings are most noticeable among the pest birds, said Jenifer Cruikshank, who works for the Oregon State University Extension Service focusing on dairy farms There’s just so many of them, and they’re kind of voracious eaters, she said.
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KLCC s Aubrey Bulkeley reports on the increase of residential waste and the decrease of commercial waste at local transfer stations during the pandemic.
Both Lane County Waste Management and Sanipac have seen commercial waste decrease and residential waste increase since the pandemic began.
One reason, says Aaron Donley from Sanipac, might be businesses that are temporarily closed.
“You know, people are. also tend to be ordering online so we’ve seen a good uptick of cardboard volumes residentially,” Donley said. “And then that corresponding decrease commercially.”
Angie Marzano is a Lane County Waste Reduction Specialist who also owns Hot Mama’s Wings with her husband.