Cliff, et.al.:
We live in the Enetai neighborhood of South Bellevue, near the Mercer Slough, so we are blessed with an abundance of wonderful birds. Usually included in that blessing is at least one, possibly two large populations of starlings that roost in some of our tall trees. They take flight in the evening, and the sky is black. As a matter of fact, it seems that just before they take to flight, they become quite loud. Is that my imagination? I was getting out of my car in my driveway one day,and was startled by the sound of hundreds of birds. It seemed very nearby, but I could not see them with the naked eye. Completely forgetting about Alfred Hitchcock's movie The Birds, I moved toward the sound, down our cul-de-sac. All of a sudden it appeared that the leaves on the trees took to the air, as the starlings began their flight. Now that I know they are there, I can see them better. And, by the way, is a hitchcock a type of bird? Just wondering.
Ellie Schroeder
----- Original Message -----
From: DIDIANSTET at aol.com
To: cliff at cliffdrake.net ; tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 10:08 PM
Subject: Re: Starling speed?


Cliff:
I work near the stadium/ballfield, and often see the starlings on my way home. I usually have classical music on the radio, and get stuck at a long traffic light. With the classical music as accompaniment, it is really quite marvelous to watch their swoops and swirls.

Didi Anstett
didianstet at aol.com