The Birds

**Darlene** · 09-26-2010, 10:26 AM

This time of year you never know what kind of bird and how many will visit your yard. Just a few minutes ago I heard a commotion outside and saw I was surrounded by hundreds of Starlings. These pic's don't do justice to how many were surrounding my house, it was spooky I tell ya. Last time I saw a huge flock of birds in my yard my neighbor had just died, hopefully this isn't the sign of something again.

**shellyrhds** · 09-26-2010, 10:38 AM

cool, and spooky at the same time! Now if you can only get them to show up on Halloween for your trick-or-treaters!

**Missy** · 09-26-2010, 03:04 PM

that's alotta birds!

**Darlene** · 09-26-2010, 03:40 PM

They didn't stay long and looking at the pics again, it's hard to see the female of the species as they are much lighter in color but they were there too.
Jack was walking the dog today and saw a tree that was overhanging the creek downstream and on a lower branch were a flock of noisy song birds and an eagle on a higher branch. Great bird day.

**HandyMom** · 09-26-2010, 10:54 PM

I hope it's not bad luck. My Grandma believed that if a bird tries to get your attention like by pecking at a window, it's a sign of a death in the family. She believed because it happened to her twice.

**Darlene** · 09-27-2010, 09:25 AM

No bad omen

Yesterday was a nice day spent with hubby, ds and inlaws with weather that turned out better than expected. All kinds of migration happening so keep your eyes peeled. Saw a hummingbird moth yesterday too, we usually get them in August & they hang around my black eyed susans but we haven't had any hb moths this year. They are too late, the flowers have done their thing and are dying back. Late to the table, you miss out, No Flowers For You!.

**shoiji** · 09-28-2010, 05:17 PM

We get them here every spring and fall. All I can think of is the movie "The Birds". It is fun to watch especially when they decide to all of a sudden fly away.

**Durgan** · 09-28-2010, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by Darlene

This time of year you never know what kind of bird and how many will visit your yard. Just a few minutes ago I heard a commotion outside and saw I was surrounded by hundreds of Starlings. These pic's don't do justice to how many were surrounding my house, it was spooky I tell ya. Last time I saw a huge flock of birds in my yard my neighbor had just died, hopefully this isn't the sign of something again.

The starlings are on your lawn looking for grubs. Starlings are amongst my favorite birds to have visit. They eat prodigious quantities of Japanese beetle larvae, and European Crane Fly larvae.

One year my garden was infested with thousands of European Crane Fly larvae. Flocks of starlings came about four times per day, and in about ten days almost all the larvae were eliminated. I watched through the binoculars and one bird ate 15 larvae in about a minute.

The starlings seldom visit now, since there is no food for them. I found one larvae today, while rototilling the garlic bed. I hope it stays that way.

**Persimmon Lace** · 09-28-2010, 10:42 PM

They do this at our house and the hill/park behind our house, only there are literally hundreds, it makes the movie the Birds look small! They always appear at the changing of the season!

**gottadance** · 10-02-2010, 09:09 AM

Yes, I've had 300-500 of them at a time in my yard and the surrounding trees - it's very much like The Birds. One time I pulled out my video cam and taped them because it was so weird. The sound is very loud.

When the settlers first arrived, there were stories of bird flocks so big they darkened the skies - can you imagine?

Unfortunately, starlings are not a great bird - they are European and very aggressive and compete with our native birds for food, nesting sites, etc.

**Darlene** · 10-02-2010, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by gottadance

Yes, I've had 300-500 of them at a time in my yard and the surrounding trees - it's very much like The Birds. One time I pulled out my video cam and taped them because it was so weird. The sound is very loud.

When the settlers first arrived, there were stories of bird flocks so big they darkened the skies - can you imagine?

Unfortunately, starlings are not a great bird - they are European and very aggressive and compete with our native birds for food, nesting sites, etc.

They are one of my least favorite birds as they are like little piggies eating all the suet and devouring the black oil sunflower seed, bullying out all the smaller birds.

Truth be told when they are around you can hear me yelling at them & calling them the longer "b" word and "Get the heck outa my yard!"
Love my good birds, lol.

**frugalfranny** · 10-03-2010, 03:10 AM

Wow.......and I thought I got a lot of them.

Because they are good 'bug eaters' I leave them alone but will chase them out of the bird baths........they are mean to the other birds that come to them and are usually first there when I have cleaned the water.

Starlings are only second to crows for messy.........I let the dogs chase them!