Re(2): Starlings
- To: t*@xtra.co.nz
- Subject: Re(2): Starlings
- From: B*@monterey.edu (Barry Garcia)
- Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 02:05:16 -0700
theryans@xtra.co.nz writes:
>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!!).
I fortunately haven't seen Starlings in my city. I suppose that is a very
good thing! We do however have Pigeons, and a nesting pair made a very
messy and damaging (to our roof) nest under an eave that overhung the
porch roof. Fortunately we had it boarded up but they still insist on
trying to nest on the roof, except their eggs roll off and end up on the
ground.
The only birds we have problems with are Brewer's Blackbirds (Euphagus
cyanocephalus), and this is only at nesting time. The males have a nasty
habit of flying at anything, be it man or beast that goes near their
nests. We had two nesting pairs in our yards one year, and whenever people
passed by they would hold their hands above their heads and wave them back
and forth. I was a little afraid of gardening that year because they fly
at you when your back is turned (they watch you if you are looking at
them).
The native birds are not at all bothersome, except sometimes the Scrub
Jays. These are very bold birds, and I have seen one fly right into a
building, steal a piece of apple or cracker from someones lunch and fly
away (and this was at least 100 feet from the entrance). This page has a
great picture of a Scrub Jay: http://wildtexas.com/wildguides/scrubjay.htm
Also, I found this web page on building a trap to catch Starlings and
English Sparrows: http://elwood.pionet.net/~kuseld/birdtrap.htm
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'The beginning calls for courage; the end demands care'
