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Photography

Mousetoescamper

(5,499 posts) Sat Nov 9, 2024, 07:41 PM Nov 9

8

Starlings in flight

Taken in my back yard tonight.

I think these much-maligned birds are quite beautiful. They've been in the United States since 1890 when an eccentric named Eugene Schieffelin released a few dozen European starlings in New York City. He supposedly wanted to introduce to America all the bird species mentioned in William Shakespeare's plays. Mozart kept a starling as a pet for about three years.   

Starlings are now in all 50 states, among the most numerous birds in the country and are considered invasive. Love them or hate them, they're here to stay.

10 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Starlings in flight (Original Post) Mousetoescamper Nov 9 OP

Wow! They look like flying ornaments! CaliforniaPeggy Nov 9 #1

Thanks! Mousetoescamper Nov 9 #4

Peggy, you read my mind. Like tree ornaments! Diamond_Dog Nov 9 #2

At my feeder they scatter a lot of seeds on the ground. The doves Arkansas Granny Nov 9 #3

Thanks! Mousetoescamper Nov 9 #5

I have enjoyed the way they sometimes mimic sounds Easterncedar Nov 10 #6

They're fascinating. I hope to photograph and video a starling murmuration this fall. Mousetoescamper Nov 11 #9

Their winter plumage is also handsomer than their breeding plumage, imho! Easterncedar Nov 10 #7

Ah! Ysabel Nov 11 #8

If I'm able to catch a starling murmuration this fall I'll post it in Photography. Mousetoescamper Nov 11 #10

CaliforniaPeggy

(152,451 posts)

1. Wow! They look like flying ornaments!

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Sat Nov 9, 2024, 07:48 PM

Nov 9

I'm loving seeing the faintly blurry wings and the perfect placement of these birds in the sky!

Mousetoescamper

(5,499 posts)

4. Thanks!

Reply to CaliforniaPeggy (Reply #1)

Sat Nov 9, 2024, 08:57 PM

Nov 9

Diamond_Dog

(35,162 posts)

2. Peggy, you read my mind. Like tree ornaments!

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Sat Nov 9, 2024, 08:08 PM

Nov 9

Great capture, Mousetoescamper!

They are handsome birds, but a group of them can clean out my bird feeder in minutes!

Arkansas Granny

(31,869 posts)

3. At my feeder they scatter a lot of seeds on the ground. The doves

Reply to Diamond_Dog (Reply #2)

Sat Nov 9, 2024, 08:42 PM

Nov 9

and squirrels appreciate it.

Mousetoescamper

(5,499 posts)

5. Thanks!

Reply to Diamond_Dog (Reply #2)

Sat Nov 9, 2024, 08:57 PM

Nov 9

Easterncedar

(3,647 posts)

6. I have enjoyed the way they sometimes mimic sounds

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Sun Nov 10, 2024, 12:57 AM

Nov 10

Like sirens. Quite uncanny!

Mousetoescamper

(5,499 posts)

9. They're fascinating. I hope to photograph and video a starling murmuration this fall.

Reply to Easterncedar (Reply #6)

Mon Nov 11, 2024, 08:25 PM

Nov 11

Easterncedar

(3,647 posts)

7. Their winter plumage is also handsomer than their breeding plumage, imho!

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Sun Nov 10, 2024, 12:59 AM

Nov 10

Ysabel

(2,080 posts)

8. Ah!

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Mon Nov 11, 2024, 08:02 PM

Nov 11

I love starlings they visit our yard in the morning and then a little while later the cardinals wake up...

Mousetoescamper

(5,499 posts)

10. If I'm able to catch a starling murmuration this fall I'll post it in Photography.

Reply to Ysabel (Reply #8)

Mon Nov 11, 2024, 08:28 PM

Nov 11

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