Re: Starlings
Bob Beer wrote:
>
> They seem to have emigrated to the U.S., along with the sparrows. Actually
> they were imported into the U.S., along with other English birds, because
> one settler decided that the New World should have all the birds mentioned
> by the Bard... If there were ever a time machine, this man would be in
> trouble!
Starlings were also imported into NZ by early British settlers, perhaps
partly inspired by Shakespeare, but more, I guess, to make this
frighteningly distant land seem a bit more like home. The birds seem to
be fairly numerous here, but not overwhelming, though the Wellington
City fathers from time to time make war on them because they do
seriously foul and damage buildings with their roosting. (And I gather
all the flocks which go out to forage the countryside in the daytinme
tend to return to the big city at bedtime).
We seem to have a very minor flock in our area, no more than a dozen
birds, which decorously make a round of the different gardens,
concentrating mostly on the lawns. We also actually seem to have three
resident ones which regularly appear at our bird feeder in winter and in
summer sit on the power wires and entertain us with their curious
whistling calls. I presume these must nest in the area, unless it is a
batchelor gang. I have never caought them damaging crop beds (they leave
that to the blackbirds which manage very efficiently, thankyou!!).
As to the sparrows, they may be becoming rare in England, but they are
alive and doing well here. We even have a part albino female in the
local gang. She is almost golden in colour and because she is easy to
spot we know she has so far survived three years. Our eldest son has a
small hobby farm on which his wife raises free-range chickens. She makes
constant war on sparrows which she considers vermin and kills at sight,
as they transmit enteritis to her flock.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata,
New Zealand (astride the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
