After pigeons and sparrows, starlings
seem to be the most common birds in New York City, but I know so little
about them. I remedied that with some quick Web surfing and learned
that the song I heard is a combination of "warbling, gurgling,
chirruping and clicking noises," and these birds will often imitate
many other species (animals as well as birds), along with man-made sounds
like car alarms and telephones.
A group of starlings is known as a "constellation"
or a "filth" or a "murmuration" or a "scourge"
or a "vulgarity." Whatever term you may use, starling flocks
often number in the tens of thousands.
I also learned that every European Starling
in North America "descended from 100 birds released in New York's
Central Park in the early 1890s. A group dedicated to introducing America
to all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare's works set the birds free."
Thanks to this dimwitted idea, you can now find over 200 million European
Starlings across much of North America.
Finally, I learned that the US Department
of Agriculture has named the European Starling an invasive species
because it "competes with native species and destroys crops."
Also, critics say, large flocks can "overwhelm buildings and trees
with a large scale buildup of feces where the uric acid content causes
corrosion to stone, metal, and masonry. Gutters and down pipes clogged
with starling nests often become blocked, leading to water damage. Bacteria,
fungus, and parasites in the feces pose a health risk."
I don't know about you, but I'd rather
live in a world where…
-
A resilient mimic of a bird
is valued above stone, metal, and masonry.
-
Humans are the species correctly
labeled "invasive" and a "health risk."
Until the laws are changed or the power
runs out, Mickey Z. can be found on the Web at http://www.mickeyz.net