Look at this amazing group of starlings from a couple weeks ago gathering around my bird bath. So cool to see them gathering so close to each other!
Good Morning Miles! I am so glad you used words like 'beautiful' and 'amazing' to describe these birds. Because they are. And most of us do not see that. You are exceptional in your understanding.
To all of you reading my answer to Miles' post: It is true, European Starlings can be messy around their nest sites and they will outcompete our native birds for nesting and foraging sites - and this can be deadly for our native birds. But starlings were introduced to North America by us - our ancestors living here in the U.S. who wanted to bring their favorite birds they remembered from their homes in places like England, The Netherlands, and Germany. This bird was one of those birds. They did not come here by themselves and it is not their fault they are here. Nor is it the fault of our native birds like Eastern Bluebirds, Purple Martins, and many of the woodpeckers, that they have not evolved enough to develop defenses against them. We human beings have to find a balance between protecting our native birds at nesting and foraging sites, but the answer is not indiscriminately killing starlings or destroying their eggs and young. And we human beings are intelligent and clever - we can figure this out.
European Starlings are a good reminder to us that all species have good traits - things to admire. With starlings, a few of these traits are how close they are to each other - the bond. They will fight over dominance issues with other species but when there is a flock of starlings, these birds often get along with each other quite well. They communicate with each other constantly. They like to be together to eat and to rest and sleep - and is that not just like us?
Starlings can be discouraged or prohibited from using man-made nesting boxes for specific birds by following the recommended guidelines as to size of entrance hole. They can be discouraged from your feeders by eliminating corn, white millet and suet - or putting all three in feeders designed to keep them - and squirrels - out. While we do need to understand European Starlings are dominant, aggressive birds that need to be watched, we do not need to take the next step into hating them. And we should never take the step to kill them indiscriminately, and to destroy their eggs and young, because there is no human being who knows if birds - or any animal - have emotions and if they do, how deep. We humans are also part of the animal kingdom - do you really think we are the only creatures who have them? And remember, our emotions can also be easily explained away as chemical and hormonal reactions.
So instead of trying to destroy these birds or hating them, think about grinning at them when you see those outlandish polka dots. Appreciate their attachment to each other in their flock. Marvel at the synchronized movements of these flocks. And always remember, we are the ones that brought them here. If they are causing havoc to our native birds, it is our fault.
Thank you Miles for your photo - and yes it caused me to grin! But most of all for your appreciation of this controversial bird. Linda
P.S. According to The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology - and other experts - since about 1960, the population of European Starlings in the continental U.S. has decreased by 50%. This decline shows no signs of stabilizing or ending.
Look at this amazing group of starlings from a couple weeks ago gathering around my bird bath. So cool to see them gathering so close to each other!
Good Morning Miles! I am so glad you used words like 'beautiful' and 'amazing' to describe these birds. Because they are. And most of us do not see that. You are exceptional in your understanding.
To all of you reading my answer to Miles' post: It is true, European Starlings can be messy around their nest sites and they will outcompete our native birds for nesting and foraging sites - and this can be deadly for our native birds. But starlings were introduced to North America by us - our ancestors living here in the U.S. who wanted to bring their favorite birds they remembered from their homes in places like England, The Netherlands, and Germany. This bird was one of those birds. They did not come here by themselves and it is not their fault they are here. Nor is it the fault of our native birds like Eastern Bluebirds, Purple Martins, and many of the woodpeckers, that they have not evolved enough to develop defenses against them. We human beings have to find a balance between protecting our native birds at nesting and foraging sites, but the answer is not indiscriminately killing starlings or destroying their eggs and young. And we human beings are intelligent and clever - we can figure this out.
European Starlings are a good reminder to us that all species have good traits - things to admire. With starlings, a few of these traits are how close they are to each other - the bond. They will fight over dominance issues with other species but when there is a flock of starlings, these birds often get along with each other quite well. They communicate with each other constantly. They like to be together to eat and to rest and sleep - and is that not just like us?
Starlings can be discouraged or prohibited from using man-made nesting boxes for specific birds by following the recommended guidelines as to size of entrance hole. They can be discouraged from your feeders by eliminating corn, white millet and suet - or putting all three in feeders designed to keep them - and squirrels - out. While we do need to understand European Starlings are dominant, aggressive birds that need to be watched, we do not need to take the next step into hating them. And we should never take the step to kill them indiscriminately, and to destroy their eggs and young, because there is no human being who knows if birds - or any animal - have emotions and if they do, how deep. We humans are also part of the animal kingdom - do you really think we are the only creatures who have them? And remember, our emotions can also be easily explained away as chemical and hormonal reactions.
So instead of trying to destroy these birds or hating them, think about grinning at them when you see those outlandish polka dots. Appreciate their attachment to each other in their flock. Marvel at the synchronized movements of these flocks. And always remember, we are the ones that brought them here. If they are causing havoc to our native birds, it is our fault.
Thank you Miles for your photo - and yes it caused me to grin! But most of all for your appreciation of this controversial bird. Linda
P.S. According to The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology - and other experts - since about 1960, the population of European Starlings in the continental U.S. has decreased by 50%. This decline shows no signs of stabilizing or ending.
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