It is always nice
to get a little recognition, and this time around, it happens across the pond in the UK. The Daily Star, the Daily Telegraph and The Times have published one of the angry ones today.
They haven’t been visiting in a long time,
but along with the cold and snow, a large group of Starlings has found its way to the yard too. I do find their photos quite entertaining but truth be told, I could live without them pooping all over the place, trashing the bird baths and eating everything in sight… They kind of remind me of the Bumpus Hounds from A Christmas Story 🤪
It is so easy
to get used to certain things and then feel bummed when they suddenly stop working. I’ve used my Birdsy cams since 2019 now, and when they had a server maintenance yesterday, it was awkward to not see what is going on in the yard. Interruptions happen occasionally but I guess it is extra hard when there is nothing else going on and you are thirsty for excitement 😜 Today, everything is back in order again, and you can watch my (mostly uneventful) streams here and over at birdsy.com. Activity is still low except for some finches, MoDos and a group of Starlings that comes several times a day to check feeders and destroy the bird baths. A hawk has been trying to hunt here too. I am slowly planning spring setups and enjoy spending a little less on bird seed. And the occasional action-packed Starling portrait.
It was a day
with crazy weather day here in Michigan today. I only went out heavily bundled-up and was nervous to get on the ladder to replenish the peanut butter on the tree because it was so windy. There was good bird activity, and there is a Chickadee roosting in the Bluebird box tonight, but the light was also bad and everybody literally was out there trying to survive. Here are two photos from today though. A MoDo fighting off a Starling, and a Starling with an ice crown. These guys are so nuts they took baths today. It was so cold that the splashes froze on the lens and I had to de-freeze it several times. I hope you are all in a warm spot, good night! Hoping for snow and sun tomorrow!
So when I saw the Carolina Wren
the other day, I started putting out mealers in the open again to try and get photos of it. Well, I did, but the mealworms also lured in these guys - European Starlings. They are invasive in the US, and they have made it far because they can be voracious and aggressive. Especially when there are mealworms… But they also look very cool. That tongue!
Video: Breakfast with the Starlings
The flock came back this morning. My post last night evoked lots of interesting reactions. For the birder on a budget, Starlings can be a bit of a nuisance because of their voraciousness. They will chase other birds away and can be rather aggressive in defending the food (also amongst each other). They are an invasive bird in the US, and can be a threat to native cavity nesters like the Red-bellied Woodpecker, taking over nestboxes and killing the inhabitant. But they are also very clever, impressive and beautiful birds, and none of their behavior is their own fault. As a native European myself, I do feel a connection to them, but I am always glad to only enjoy them in small doses.
The Starlings are back.
In the last two days, a group of Starlings mixed with Cowbirds has rained down on my yard and raided the feeders. The mealworms are back to being offered in the caged feeder exclusively, and I hope this flock will move on soon. The camera did capture their spirit and colors well, though 😆.
Here’s to an enthusiastic Monday!
Bird traffic
continues to be slow, but this morning we had the first slight frost of the season, so winter is slowly coming. The sun continues to give her all, making some of the otherwise more dull visitors like this Starling appear in a new light. Making me forgive them their bad table and nesting manners for a bit.
The Starlings
have been back, and some of them are still molting into their adult feathers, as can be seen by the remnants of the brown baby feathers around the head.
Video: Bluebird uses warning call
An interesting scene from this morning. The young Bluebird first divebombs the Starling, then lets out a warning call. Bluebirds use this call to alert their peers that there is some kind of danger in the area. It is possible that there was a hawk around, but the Starling certainly seems to know the call and what it means. He looks startled!
Teenagers!
The yard is full of teenage birds, so here is a little gallery. In order of appearance: Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Common Grackle, European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, Blue Jay and Red-bellied Woodpecker.
A teenage Starling
looking into your soul. (They do have quite “human” eyes somehow, don’t they?)
I haven't been posting many photos recently,
but that is just because this is basically what the feeders look like right now most of the time. The Starlings and their babies have taken over a bit. These “takeovers” happen each season, and they will mellow at some point too. And no matter what one thinks of Starlings (Europe and the US perceive them a bit differently), the interactions between the youngsters and the parents are funny to watch. They do sound a bit like haunted witches, though.
Video: Robins at the bird bath
Robins are natural born bathers, and will use a bird bath frequently. The Birdsy camera captured this hilarious scene involving three excited Robins and a Starling that was not tolerated at bathing time.
Video: Starlings trying to get into nestbox
My second nestbox has a small entrance hole that would only fit Chickadees or Wrens but has a door slab that woodpeckers could modify in their own style. Now that nesting season is beginning, Starlings are also showing interest. They can’t get in, but you can hear how much they wanted to. I am trying a new camera solution in there and I am excited to see what the season brings with this box.
