Starling Bird
The European Starling Bird And His Intentions
The starling bird is a nesting bird of European descent. He was released here during the 19th century, along with the common house sparrow. The hose sparrow, by the way, is that little bugger who insists on nesting and chattering under the eves of your covered porch during all hours of the day. Both of these species are brave and bold, seemingly unaffected by the frequent goings on around the human built structures that they covet. The starling bird has endeared himself to certain groups of avian fans and good deed doers, but the general philosophy in regards to this species is the same for most other people: get rid of the starling bird before he damages your property.
The starling bird is a rather dull, speckled, black bird with a blunt, short tail and an elongated, yellow to brown beak. He is close coupled, which gives him a very beefy build and a good deal of power for his size. He is considered to be aggressive, and has a nasty reputation as a nest stealer. If the starling bird doesn’t have to do all the work, why should he? There are reports of the starling bird keeping track of the nest building habits and progress of other species, and then attacking for the take over as soon as the site is built. These types of cunning behaviors have classified him as a nuisance to devout bird watchers and nature lovers the country side over.
The starling bird enjoys a wide variety of foods, including but not limited to insects, grains, and wild fruit seeds. His more pressing habits begin during the flocking and nesting periods, when it is not unlikely to see upwards of ten thousand starlings gathered together in tree stands or on buildings and power lines. This great meeting occurs sometimes twice per month, and to some is absolutely breathtaking. What makes these birds mass together this way? How do they know when and where to meet? This activity is one of the wonders which endears these pesky black birds to those who go to bat for him against the majority of the public.
The starling bird will completely invade any open, covered area that he can find, which is usually to the dismay of pavilion and pole barn owners all over the country. Having a few outdoor cats handy could never hurt, nor could the complete enclosure of these structures. The starling bird is rather striking during the winter, as his feathers become glossy and iridescent, giving him a brilliant sheen of color. The normal clutch for the female starling produces three to five chicks, and she will partake in breeding twice a year.