Hi Tweets,

I live in a very urban neighborhood with lots of concrete and lawn and
few large trees, and subsequently we have a substantial population of
starlings. However, I replaced my lawn with a "forest" of small trees
(still saplings at this point) and a varied, largely native understory,
and I almost never see starlings in my yard. I do have a caged squirrel
proof suet feeder, and from time to time a couple starlings from the
flock feeding on the neighbor's lawn will make an attempt at the suet,
but that just gives me an opportunity to examine their beautiful,
still-fresh plumage more closely. They always leave within a few
minutes and rejoin the throngs next door. If we provided less habitat
for starlings (the beloved American lawn), we'd have fewer of them
around our houses. I can't make my tiny urban plot into a haven like
the woods, ravines and other spreads I wistfully imagine when many of
you post about your yard sightings, but the birds I do have are still
many and mostly native.

As for mammals -- I hate to say it, but the oppossum is no more native
to the Pacific northwest than the eastern gray squirrel. The only
mammals that pre-dated European arrivals I've seen in my neighborhood
are raccoons. I do enjoy the antics of the eastern grays, though,
especially as they persistently try and fail to access my birdfeeders.
If only they were Douglas squirrels, as Dennis wished!

Robert Pisano wrote:
"And yes, I share your sentiments about the absence of native mammals
from our urban scene. Although I did have an Opossum last week in full
daylight, easily the size of a Warthog!"


Katie Sauter Messick
Wallingford neighborhood, Seattle