The Starlings Are Back In Town
Image via Wikipedia And I couldn’t be happier! I love European starlings, just love them! They do not represent pests to me, at all. I’ve never been a farmer, though – or whomever it is that starlings bother. I’ve forgotten. Because I just love them. I know I read about it somewhere a long time ago.
I do remember the part about starling’s being brought into the United States – New York, I think it was, in around 1910. And there were only either 10 or 50 of them. Period. Total. And that did it. Now they are everywhere!
Except, it would seem, in North East Alabama. There are very few of them here year-round, anyway. Most of the year, even in spring, I only see one or two of them at a time, three if I’m lucky.
They come every fall, though – from somewhere – and they go …somewhere…
And I love the livin’ crap out of it! I miss my precious starlings! The ones I raised and just having oodles of them around. I used to raise the ones that would fall out of the nest. They were so precious. Oh, how I adored them. And they me. (Yeah, yeah, it’s called ‘imprinting’, I know. Shut up.)
But then my mean ol’ hubband-person went and got leather furniture! Indoor flight practice prior to release and leather furniture just do not go together! They were already scratching up lampshades and pictures and all kinds of things that Mark didn’t notice. (Shhhh!!)
I miss them so much! My three favorites, or, I should say, the three that I really bonded with were Birdy, Quasar, and Piglet. Oh gosh, I loved those birds. Man, am I dorky saphead or what? I had intended months ago to post a picture I’d taken of my keyboard for Loretta, my online business tycoon friend just to show her what a nutter for my birds I am (HA!), but, of course, in my true slacker form, I never got around to it. I took the picture, I just never got it online. I’ve dug around for it a little tonight, but, I can’t find it. And I’m getting super-sleepy. (Nighttime wimp, I am.) I’ll get it posted for you all (and Loretta) tomorrow, and then you will have proof positive that I am off my rocker!
(And yes, I realize my ‘bird talk’ winds up in the category ‘Animals’ – quite silly, really. I think some ‘bug talk’ is in there, too. I’ll get around to changing that to ‘Creatures’ one day. For now, just work with me.)
You called one of your starlings ‘Birdy’? That’s like calling a cat ‘kitty’, not particularly original, even if it is accurate.
You know, I had thought about explaining that one. As I typed it out, I thought it might bring some cockeyed looks or funny questions! LOL!
He was my first starling rescue, and I was attempting ‘not’ to name him. ‘Bird’ eventually turned into ‘Birdy’ as our bond grew stronger…
That silly bird wouldn’t be released – he would fly back in the house every. single. time. Or he’d be up on the roof or in the tree, and I’d call out to him – and he’d fly to my shoulder.
We had a special song (Twinkle, Twinkle) because, I had sang it to him every night when putting him to bed. We could sing that song and he would hurriedly fly right over to us!