I bought some dried mealworms for the birds and that brought in Starlings. Always appearing several at a time and thankfully, for all the other smaller less gregarious birds, not very often here.
Once more I looked in that book
And this is Carrie Ackroyds illustration
Several years ago, when we were at the smallholding, we stood and watched a gathering of Starlings, a Murmuration, doing their impressive display over the field behind the house. How wonderful, we thought, as they normally congregated over the marshes near Aldeburgh.
What wasn't so wonderful was when a while later they all flew into roost in the Leylandii trees at the front of the house and started their noisy chattering - several 100 of them probably. Oh well, we thought, they'll settle down quietly when it gets dark. But they didn't! They carried on their mad chittering ALL NIGHT - just a few feet from the bedroom window. I got almost no sleep and you should have seen the state of the trees and car by morning!
The next night, when the same thing happened, I'm afraid we went out and banged a tin tray and rattled a feed bag until they flew off - probably back to the marshes - no one to keep awake there.
This is a You Tube film of a even bigger gathering from 'SomeDudeCalledMatt'
According to the book - in 1890 a pharmaceutical millionaire decided he would introduce all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare into the USA. Sixty starlings released in New York are now a nationwide, 2 billion strong, pest.
Starlings were the second most common bird seen in several RSPB great Garden Birdwatches although numbers have declined since the 1990s.
Back Soon
Sue
We get just the occasional single starling to our feeders. I can cope with that - but I don't blame you for going out with the tea tray to chase those hundreds away that were roosting with you. A shame that chap sought to upset the balance of nature by introducing Shakespeare's birds to the States.
ReplyDeleteAs for those murmurations - blimey!
Incredible to watch. So many creatures swapping continents and causing problems now too of course
DeleteAs far as I am concerned, the billionaire could have kept the nasty things. They are loud, obnoxious, and greedy and I doubt any bird lovers here in the States would shed a tear if they all went to birdy heaven in some apoplectic event.
DeleteThey are impressive, aren't they - very sociable (with their own kind) birds.
ReplyDeletePeople didn't realise in those days how daft it was to take creatures out of their own environment - one hopes we know better nowadays. xx
Already almost too late for some things like red squirrels
DeleteLast week, I was reading about the sick alligator found in a New a York lake. It seems there was a trend to keep these exotic pets, but when they outgrow their charm, they're just dumped. (New York has had to deal with six in the last five years) How cruel and thoughtless!
ReplyDeleteHow mad to keep an alligator!
DeleteThey are a huge pest here in Australia, too. If I could push a big red button and get rid of both starlings and sparrows, I would do it right now!
ReplyDeleteOh dear, they are pests here but not to drastic
DeleteIn a previous house we used to get that display every evening at dusk, then they would all roost in a small wood next door. One night there was a lot of commotion and gunshot and the next morning dead and dying birds littered our garden and the field at the back. I know they cause a nuisance in such large numbers but it's a pity they couldn't find another way to discourage them.
ReplyDeleteSomeone didn't want them in their wood!
DeleteWe were once stopped at Tebay services coming home in late January and there was a large murmuration swirling around overhead. That was the first time I had really realised what a noise they make but it was quite surreal in an almost dark winter sky. I had forgotten about it until your post triggered my memory this morning. Catriona
ReplyDeleteThey are very chatty birds when roosing!
DeleteWe stopped using mealworms, the starlings ate it all as soon as hubby filled the feeder, their numbers grew fast as they recognised a food supply, we don't see them much now, but using hulled sunflower seeds, we see a good mixture of small birds.
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd give mealworms a try as they are so much cheaper than other bird feed, but they are certainly getting eaten far too quickly
DeleteWe get a lot of starlings roosting in our tall hedge. I agree their chattering is very noisy. The car near the hedge is filthy most of the time. However, I like them and feel sorry for them as most people detest them thinking they're greedy, but I read it's just because they use up their energy faster and need to replenish.
ReplyDeleteThey definitely like mealworms!
DeleteStarlings are one of my favourite winter garden birds. So many perceive them as aggressively greedy. However, Starling's, unlike other birds, need four times their body weight in food each and everyday in order to survive. They have a very high metabolic rate. I always make sure extra goes out to keep the Starlings fed.
ReplyDeleteStill posting anonymously. Deb in Wales. Who loves starlings!
DeleteI like the colours on them that catch the light but they are not my favourite birds
DeleteStarlings are generally disliked in the countryside because they spread diseases. In the 1960s it was always said that starlings spread the deadly fowl pest amongst the flocks of chicken and turkeys in East Anglia and they have been despised ever since. It is difficult to find anyone here who likes starlings and even the murmurations over Yarmouth, a good place to see them, they are not loved.
ReplyDeleteThere are probably too many of them in many places, I don't see them often around the village
DeleteStarlings were introduced to NZ too, and in F's youth many farmers put starling boxes on their fence posts to encourage starlings to control grass grubs (which are like smaller chaffer grubs and can damage vast swathes of pasture by eating off the grass roots)..
ReplyDeleteFunny how ideas change
DeleteWe live in the Welsh countryside and every winter we have a large influx of starlings who apparently are attracted to local farms where they roost at night pinching the grain......during the day they are noisy and messy and we've stopped putting fatballs out as that seemed to bring them into the garden in huge numbers. We are always pleased to see them clear off in the spring but I suppose like my OH says they have the same need to eat as all the smaller cuter birds - I'll never really warm to them despite the beautiful murmarations.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
I've given up on fat balls and peanuts as they both went mouldy, the mealworms go really quickly so I only put them out now and again and that means I only see the starlings occasionally which is enough
Delete
ReplyDeleteI did not know starlings could chatter loudly throughout the night causing sleepless nights for those trying to sleep. At one time, a large flock of starlings flying near Logan (Boston, MA) airport collided with a passenger plane in flight. After this, an effort was made to eliminate starlings. I've not seen starlings in a very long time.
They were incredibly loud!
DeleteI would love to see a Starling murmuration. Starlings aren't native to the US but they are here. They are considered nuisance birds. There are a lot of them around. I can hear them chattering up in the trees. We've had several visiting our garden during the colder days and they are such hungry things! It does make me smile when I see them feeding their babies. The babies are quite demanding and are sometimes larger than the parents!
ReplyDeleteOnly seen it just that time at the smallholding. I think they are often seen at Minsmere and Aldeburgh marshes
DeleteI love the starling illustration from your book. That book is certainly a terrific source of bird pictures. The video reminded me of the movie "The Birds" which I always think of when I see a large group of birds flying around!
ReplyDeleteThe book is being well used for blog posts!
DeleteOh My! The Starlings in the little video are almost frightening as they swoop around. I'm not a fan of them either. Sorry about your disturbed night.
ReplyDeleteGranny Marigold
Murmurations are so interesting. I really would like to see one.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.