Thoroughly Obnoxious

Day 110: There are very few birds I actively dislike. Band-tailed Pigeons probably top the list, but Red-Winged Blackbirds and Starlings (above) are currently running neck-and-neck for second place. Blackbirds can be both persistent and aggressive, and I suppose a more appropriate word for my feelings regarding them would be that of "irritating" or even "infuriating," where Starlings fall into the category of "annoying" and generally obnoxious. The Starlings fly off when I open the door. The Blackbirds stay in the tree even when I'm right under it, clapping my hands and shouting profanities. All three species drive the other birds away purely due to their numbers. They come en masse, descending on the feeders in a cloud, and not even the jays (Canada or Steller's) will stand up to them unless it's one-on-one. That said, of the three, Starlings with their speckles have a certain charm (not enough to soften my sentiments, though). One or two, I can abide, but not a mob.

Imported Nuisance

Day 148: Sturnus vulgaris, aka the Common Starling, European Starling or English Starling, was introduced to North America in the late 1800s. Some accounts (possibly apocryphal) attest that they were brought into the US in an attempt to populate the nation with every species of bird found in the writings of William Shakespeare; what we do know for certain is that the first successful releases were of roughly 60 birds in New York and another 35 in Oregon. Their numbers have now multiplied to the millions across the country, causing Sturnus vulgaris to be listed as an invasive species. While they were initially believed to be helpful in reducing insect infestations on crops, now they may be re-evaluated as contributing to the decline in insect populations where they occur.

That said, the little buggers are ... well, "pretty" is too benign a term for a pest, so let's call them "cute." During the breeding season, the coruscating sheen of their purple-black feathers is broken up by white flecks (more pronounced on females). Their legs are pink, their beaks yellow in mating season. They are accomplished mimics, although their usual chatter is noisy and tuneless, and they waddle when they walk. It's been difficult for me to get a good photo of one because here, they've learned that human presence in the person of one of my neighbours means a substantial, shotgun-effected reduction in their numbers, making them quite skittish and flighty at the sound of an opening door. I had a split second to make this "field guide" shot before the little lady took off for the high hills.

Digital Starling

Day 135: Yes, I'm getting a little hard-up for material here. If it ain't up a tree, it's covered in snow.

I envy people who can create "pencil sketch" images with a click of an app on their phones, or with a little more work, with Photoshop's utilities. I use PaintShop Pro for all my post-processing because years ago, it was recommended to me by a friend who was a graphic artist for a magazine, and she assured me that although it was more difficult to work with, it was more versatile. I committed myself to the program and have used it ever since. While it may be more versatile, it is definitely NOT more user-friendly, and many of the quick features available with phone apps can only be achieved by making complex series of individual adjustments to the base image. The user manual is decidedly vague and unhelpful. I've been trying for years to come up with the proper combination to execute a "pencil sketch" (the PSP option listed as "pencil sketch" does nothing more than apply a nearly-opaque layer to a photo), and this is as close as I have come. While I've achieved detail in the flecked feathers of this juvenile Starling, I still feel I still have a long way to go before I'm happy with the end product.

The Undarling Starling

Day 133: Despite his cute coat of neat "knit stitches" (the non-breeding phase colouration), the European Starling is no one's darling. Sturnus vulgaris was introduced to North America some time in the late 1800s and now outcompetes other birds ranging from swallows and bluebirds to larger species such as woodpeckers as well, taking over their nesting cavities and forcing them out of their territories. Starlings generally congregate in flocks which may consist of hundreds or thousands. Nest-building is begun by the males but is completed by the female. Nesting material may include bits of greenery and flowers placed by the male as an attractant; upon accepting him as a mate, the female removes the fresh bits, leaving only grasses, twigs and other pieces of dry material in the nest cup. Prolific, Starlings can raise up to three broods of 4-5 chicks per year. Oddly, the advance of agriculture has led to a decline in the number of Starlings present in Europe, although they are still a long way from being listed as a "species of concern" in their homeland.