Huh. As I write this, it's noon today and I just remembered that I volunteered to do WYFP tonight. So… Let’s start with this little piece of florid prose while I do some thinking about what’s yanking my chain today.
WYFP is our community's Saturday evening gathering to talk about our problems, empathize with one another, and share advice, pootie pictures, favorite adult beverages, and anything else that we think might help. Everyone and all sorts of troubles are welcome. May we find peace and healing here. Won't you please share the joy of WYFP by recommending?
Now, then, I suppose that my current problem is Starlings. The Common Starling, also known as the European Starling or sturnus vulgaris for you Latin types, has taken over our backyard. We’ve always had a feeder or two out, but recently, we’ve gotten more into providing various foods for our little feathered chums. Unfortunately, the cockroach of the bird world has discovered our little paradise and is making himself quite the nuisance 20 – 200 at a time.
I do appreciate the appearance of the Starlings' winter plumage. The glossy black with lovely, white-dotted patterns. But they’re loud and messy guests. They screeee!! and poop and flap away the wee little bushtits and siskins and finches, house and lesser. Even the large woodpecker won’t compete with their frenetic numbers. The only thing that sets them back is the red-tailed hawk that comes crashing into the holly tree from time to time.
I’ve been reading up on how to get rid of these pesky birds. I think that in a couple of weeks, we will be, at least, less of an attraction for their sudden, loud invasions.
Until then, I’ll choose to appreciate their perseverance. They’re nothing if not persistent.
And, of course, whenever I’m completely disgusted with them, I remember the video shown and discussed at this link:
http://www.wired.com/...
(I’m not embedding pictures or video, in consideration of our friends with slow connections.)
If you have not yet seen this video capture of a murmuration of starlings taking three canoeing women completely by surprise, it really is breathtaking. How can a bird so annoying create something so indescribably beautiful? The text at that link helps to explain the science of it all.
So, there it is. 'Tis just a bird, this week, that's ruffled my feathers. What’s your f***ing problem?