People's emotion and concern for individual birds and other creatures have
motivated much good--conservation organizations, reserves, legislation,
wildlife rehabilitation facilities, etc.--and shouldn't be pooh-poohed.
BUT, we shouldn't ignore the realities of populations and their dynamics.
For example, when each female robin lives for several years and raises one
or more broods of four each year, all but two of her youngsters must, on
average, perish, else we'll be up to our eyeballs in robins.

Most of us share a revulsion against causing unnecessary suffering to any
living thing. However, our extreme focus on individuals rather than
populations has gotten us in to trouble, not only with starlings but in such
matters as urban goose populations that are exploding in the absence of
predators and sea lions that are decimating some salmon runs. The "public"
but humane eliminating of a few individuals has its place.

Al Wagar
Shoreline

On 1/24/08 3:22 PM, "Robert Pisano" <pisano at nwlink.com> wrote:

> Hello Dennis, and others ...
>
> I say this at great risk, but as a devout conservationist. Starlings are very
> smart birds, and I have found that if you "eliminate" one in sight of its
> cohorts, the rest disperse and do not return. Ever! Now, before all the hot
> mail comes in, just think for a moment how many native birds you might be
> saving by safeguarding a valuable food and energy source. Native birds rule
> in my yard - I have no sympathy whatever for feathered rats. But if they
> leave the provided food sources alone then they're free to pass without
> incident.
>
> As to Robins flocking with starlings, yes. I've noticed the same thing here
> for years now, and surmise they get some mutual benefit from the association -
> much like other wild birds following chickadees to the various feeders in the
> neighborhood. I've seen the Starlings dig and peck through the lawns here
> with great vigor; could the Robins be following after for the errant worm or
> two?
>
> Robert Pisano
> Ravenna Neighborhood / Seattle
>
>
>
> On Jan 24, 2008, at 2:21 PM, Dennis Paulson wrote:
>
>> I often defend starlings to people who despise them, saying it's our fault
>> they are here, not theirs, and that's entirely true.
>>
>> But today they're straining my patience. I've had this nice suet feeder
>> outside my window all winter, and it's bee a great source of joy, as bird
>> after bird feeds from it, from flocks of Bushtits to a spectacular Pileated
>> Woodpecker. Imagine a Townsend's Warbler on one side and a Bewick's Wren on
>> the other.
>>
>> But today the starlings have come back into the neighborhood, and I've spent
>> all morning chasing them off that feeder. They are shockingly persistent,
>> just flying into the nearby trees when I yell, clap my hands, and/or wave
>> things out the window, then returning within minutes or even seconds. They're
>> too relaxed! As many as 10 gather, one on the suet, and it pecks so
>> vigorously that enough suet falls to the ground to feed the hordes below.
>> Flickers do the same thing, and it's great to see a wren or Varied Thrush
>> picking up the pieces then. But the starlings can strip a suet feeder in no
>> time, and I can't afford the time or money to replace it every few hours.
>> Also, they keep the smaller birds off it, even giving the flickers pause when
>> there are enough of them. I'd love to see a Pileated come in and scatter
>> them.
>>
>> The flock finally flew away after about 15 minutes of my hassling them, but I
>> know they'll be back.
>>
>> Now that they've returned for the spring (they are fortunately absent from
>> this neighborhood in winter, I may have to take the suet down. We have
>> another feeder in which the suet is impervious to starlings, but that's such
>> a metal monstrosity that I don't really want it by my window. Not much I can
>> do about it, as I can't spend every day running to the window 50 times, just
>> venting.
>>
>> One interesting thing is that several times when the yard was full of
>> starlings, it was also full of robins, and I get the distinct feeling that
>> they may travel together, at least loosely.
>> -----
>> Dennis Paulson
>> 1724 NE 98 St.
>> Seattle, WA 98115
>> 206-528-1382
>> dennispaulson at comcast.net
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>


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