Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

Sturnus vulgaris

It’s damned invasives for the beginning of the week here at B & B.
Starlings.

mthew

5 responses to “Sturnus vulgaris”

  1. alaspooryorick

    invasive, but boy what beautiful feathers. all god’s children got wings.

    Reply
    1. mthew

      The iridescence is gorgeous, isn’t it?

      Reply
  2. Paul Lamb

    Rachel Carson wrote a famous essay about these birds saying we may as well celebrate them since they’re here and not going anywhere. “How About Citizenship Papers for Starlings” or some title like that.

    Reply
  3. Ginger Klein

    Immigrants. Not invaders.

    Reply
    1. mthew

      I think neither. They are anthropomorphic introductions, brought here by humans. I realize the “native” term can be loaded in other contexts, but the analogy isn’t to immigration. Immigration enriches human culture, making them more complex. Invasive species, on the other hand, reduce ecological complexity. Starlings in particular are cavity nesters, and very aggressive about it, so they cause a lot of problems for other cavity nesters like woodpeckers and bluebirds.

      Reply

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