And starlings actually appear to be innocent in the case of the missing bluebirds. The feather friends at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology contend on their Web site that “a study in 2003 found few actual effects on populations of 27 native species. Only sapsuckers showed declines because of starlings, and other species appeared to be holding their own against the invaders.” So when it comes to songbird decline, as Shakespeare almost said, maybe the fault is not in our starlings but in ourselves. Zzzt.
This articled was originally printed with the title, "Call of the Reviled".
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6 Comments
Add CommentThank you for absolving the imported starlings from the horrific reputation foisted upon them by millions of backyard birders. You would think from the way that they are reviled that they were to blame for every songbird decline but for global warming. I love starlings, and have had several as rehab birds or staying on as pets. Their acrobatics are amusing, their ability to imitate sounds is astounding and because thy are considered nuisance birds it is permissable to adopt an abandoned baby bird to raise for release or as a pet. My daughter taught one of our rehab starling s to whistle "Colonel Bogeys March" ( think "Bridge on the River Kwai") The starlings at my back yard feeder are as entitled to the bird seed and suet as the native cardinals, orioles, and finches and the also imported house sparrows seem to hold thier own against the larger birds as well. check out the website at http://www.starlingtalk.net/ for more info on these clever and much maligned birds.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDuring a time that I lived in a particularly ugly, industrial area of Greenpoint Brooklyn, one of the few birds I saw from my fire escape, apart from pigeons, was a little starling who used to come out and sun itself on the telephone wires. When you are deprived of more beautiful birds you learn to appreciate a seemingly lesser bird. It was quite animated as it preened and danced while belting out it's little song. I used to look forward to seeing it because it was cheery and seemed genuinely happy to be alive...
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe cardinal is the state bird of Kentucky.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe title is unfair to Shakespeare. All he did was state that Starlings are annoying. Why could he have any inkling that someone would say "Shakespeare says starlings are annoying. We need to have some"?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe cardinal is also the state bird of North Carolina.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTHe tranfer of species from one eco-system to another is always a bad idea. Here in Ireland we are plagued by introduced American Grey Squirrels (during a wedding breakfast only 100 years ago believe it or not) who are out competing the retiring native reds. Though the worst example of damage caused by species tranfer has surely got to be that of European Homo Sapiens to the North American Continent in or around 1492
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