Flocks of Starlings and some interesting observations
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Kelly Applegate~MN
- Posts: 291
- Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2003 12:54 pm
- Location: Princeton, Minnesota
I recently took a trip on Interstate 44 through Missouri and saw the most massive flock of Starlings on the face of the earth! YUK! They were roosting in an old oak tree in the center of a field and took to the air. It was a depressing site. Sometimes around here in MN, there will also be cowbirds mixed in the bunch, but from what I could tell they were all starlings. I also seen some interesting behaivor from the starlings this past summer, they were flying through the air like they were catching insects on the wing, has anyone else seen this before?
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roblrich
You sure they weren't diving to reposition or ride a current? I see that in roosting Starlings here in Kentucky.
There is nothing humanly possible I could do to ever 100% eliminate the Starling threat to my Colony, as there is just too many of the varments around here. But I can and do make it a 99.5% chance of death (trapped or shot) if they do venture here and linger for any length of time.
But English House Sparrows are far my worse problem, as they can get through the SREH's. But they die soon also. They just provide a more serious threat initially.
There is nothing humanly possible I could do to ever 100% eliminate the Starling threat to my Colony, as there is just too many of the varments around here. But I can and do make it a 99.5% chance of death (trapped or shot) if they do venture here and linger for any length of time.
But English House Sparrows are far my worse problem, as they can get through the SREH's. But they die soon also. They just provide a more serious threat initially.
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Kelly
I've been watching starlings in the St. Louis, Mo area much more closely in last few martin-obesssed years. I'm astounded at starling numbers. All I have to do is walk out my front door and look left or right. Mild winters may be a factor.
I have long observed starlings on mild winter days flying as single birds out into the open sky and making a few circles, much like a martin. I don't know if they are just enjoying themselves or maybe it's an early mating ritual.
In Forest Park, the forestry folks are leaving many dead trees for wildlife. Unfortunately, starlings take most of these cavities, but surprisingly there is a small population of bluebirds and red-headed woodpeckers, maybe hanging on. I wish a serious ornithologist would do some research on the impact of starlings in the park. I was able to successfully offer martin housing thanks to SREH entrances.
John Miller
I've been watching starlings in the St. Louis, Mo area much more closely in last few martin-obesssed years. I'm astounded at starling numbers. All I have to do is walk out my front door and look left or right. Mild winters may be a factor.
I have long observed starlings on mild winter days flying as single birds out into the open sky and making a few circles, much like a martin. I don't know if they are just enjoying themselves or maybe it's an early mating ritual.
In Forest Park, the forestry folks are leaving many dead trees for wildlife. Unfortunately, starlings take most of these cavities, but surprisingly there is a small population of bluebirds and red-headed woodpeckers, maybe hanging on. I wish a serious ornithologist would do some research on the impact of starlings in the park. I was able to successfully offer martin housing thanks to SREH entrances.
John Miller
Starlings will readily act like flycatchers when the opportunity presents itself, the times I have seen them do it is in response to swarming insects. This far south that includes termites (not necessarily in association with human structures).
They also take a great deal of fruit and berries in the winter months, whole flocks arriving on trees and bushes, a behavior which must have an impact on fruit-dependent native birds like mockingbirds and waxwings.
Our school colony would be difficult if not impossible without SREH, we have a roost at the mall just a half mile up the road. On the local Christmas Bird Count last month I counted more than 5,000 starlings at that one roost
The manouvers of starling flocks can be a ready clue to the presence of an Accipiter hawk when they form a dense, wheeling cloud of birds that flies in tight circles and arcs. Once I found a peregrine falcon over that mall this way.
Mike Scully
They also take a great deal of fruit and berries in the winter months, whole flocks arriving on trees and bushes, a behavior which must have an impact on fruit-dependent native birds like mockingbirds and waxwings.
Our school colony would be difficult if not impossible without SREH, we have a roost at the mall just a half mile up the road. On the local Christmas Bird Count last month I counted more than 5,000 starlings at that one roost
The manouvers of starling flocks can be a ready clue to the presence of an Accipiter hawk when they form a dense, wheeling cloud of birds that flies in tight circles and arcs. Once I found a peregrine falcon over that mall this way.
Mike Scully
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stan davison
- Posts: 715
- Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2005 7:48 pm
- Location: Tulsa Oklahoma
From September to December i noticed several starlings above my site gliding and catching insects. This only took place on sunny warm days during that period. Funny you say I-44 because i live in Tulsa, Ok and less than 1 mile from that interstate.
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CUL Lou~Mich
Kelly. I can assure you, you do NOT have all the Starlings in the world. I drive truck, and go from my plant in Lowell, Mi, into our other plant in Grand Rapids, then another finishing plant. I see thousands of the scum every trip in. This winter has been especially bad, since there is so little snow. They absolutely cover any plowed field, and many times the grassy areas are just black with them. I could have so much fun with my 12 guage automatic shotgun, and a few dozen boxes of fine bird shot, but alas, it's illegal. CUL Lou