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European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Marysan
- Start date
Camberley red
Well-known member
I know that the Eurasian Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is regarded as somewhat of a pest in the US, so it might be of interest to birders in the new world that the common old Starling has just been placed as a Red List Species (high conservation concern) for the UK. There has been a dramatic drop in the breeding Starling population in the UK over the last 25 years of over 50%.
So just look at those Starlings and note their beautiful plumage and consider that? if they were not considered as common, they are really a very attractive bird, if a little aggressive. On the possitive side of things my local garden population does not appear to be following national UK trends and this species is still common in the Camberley, Surrey corner of the globe! feeding on my fat balls! my House Sparrow flock is still maintaining a healthy 16plus population aswell. The House Sparrow has also made it onto the Red List for the UK, all very worrying I think!
Good birding and fingers crossed
Paul
So just look at those Starlings and note their beautiful plumage and consider that? if they were not considered as common, they are really a very attractive bird, if a little aggressive. On the possitive side of things my local garden population does not appear to be following national UK trends and this species is still common in the Camberley, Surrey corner of the globe! feeding on my fat balls! my House Sparrow flock is still maintaining a healthy 16plus population aswell. The House Sparrow has also made it onto the Red List for the UK, all very worrying I think!
Good birding and fingers crossed
Paul
Your input was very interesting to me, Paul. Thanks. Yes, the Starling this morning was an absolutely stunning bird. It was a surprise to spot it as a loner hanging out with a few Brewer's Blackbirds. I was able to get a few pics of it so as long as I'm posting, I'll attache another photo of the same Starling. Here goes!
Attachments
Yes, i wholeheartedly agree! There's nothing like the sight of a large flock wheeling and dipping and turning together through the air like a huge airborne school of fish!
However, i don't care for them at the feeders in my backyard, because they rarely come alone, scare off the songbirds, and devour seed and suet in no time.
But i love to see them in their big autumn flocks. They way they perch on high electrical wires is so fun, sometimes all the wires on a tower covered for dozens of yards by evenly spaced birds! And their sounds, especially in the winter when the air is so devoid of birdsong, always brings a smile. They're pretty good at mimicry too. We've had discussions online about being fooled by a starling into thinking we'd heard an extremely early migrant!
Fun, fun. God's creation is so special!
Sylvia
However, i don't care for them at the feeders in my backyard, because they rarely come alone, scare off the songbirds, and devour seed and suet in no time.
But i love to see them in their big autumn flocks. They way they perch on high electrical wires is so fun, sometimes all the wires on a tower covered for dozens of yards by evenly spaced birds! And their sounds, especially in the winter when the air is so devoid of birdsong, always brings a smile. They're pretty good at mimicry too. We've had discussions online about being fooled by a starling into thinking we'd heard an extremely early migrant!
Fun, fun. God's creation is so special!
Sylvia
