Dear Tweeters,
Starlings are only one of many, many birds that were introduced in the this
country. But the English Robins, Chaffinches, Skylarks (for the most part)
and Linnets didn't make it. It's one thing to ask how a bird got here, it's
another to ask why it's thriving.
Sure Starlings can be found nesting in any woodland around here and they'll
commute a ways into the woods to do it but they don't usually forage in the
woods (I've learned not to say never). They normally forage on mown lawns,
(also estuarial wetlands, natural grasslands and occasionally concrete scapes.
They do some flycatching and fruit eating in the fall). They have special
close focus eyesight and especially strong bill muscles that allow them to
poke into short grass, thrust their bill in and open it powerfully to get a
grub.
So don't blame the Starlings for their abundance, blame our fixation with
lawns.
Ed Newbold, Beacon Hill

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