The Washington herald., 1910-11-06
INVASION OF THE STARTLING.
May BECOME as sEuch of Pest As
the sparrow.

the Sparrow.
Herbert 4. Job in Outing Magazine.
In the winter of 1866 a strange bird
made its appearance In the City OF
Elms," almost under the shadow Of Yale
University. AT distance the bird seemed
the color of an ordinary blackbird. But
close by its black plumage had a greenish
gloss, showing bronze reflections when
the rays of the sun struck IL at certain
angles, while on the back were dainty
little arrowhead spangles of brown. But
most striking and characteristic. Of all
was it's slender. bright-yellow bill. Who
had ever heard of a blackbird with a
yellow bill!
II was the European startling, perhaps
& delegate from the horde Of foreign in
vasion sent to spy upon the land OF the
sons Of Eli. Be that as IL may. IL was not
many days before he saw small party
of the strange birds. then more and more
of them, The next season there was a
small resident colony And ROW, in less
than five years from the time of their
FIRST appearance. they are hooking by
hundreds. multiplying by leaps and
bounds. II in I'VE years the one local
spy has become 5000. how long, pray tell,
will il take the 5000 to become 500 600.
Like the English sparrow. they are
prolific breeders rearing at least two
broods, beginning early in the season, II
is noteworthy about them that they are
very secretive in the early part of their
nesting. They always build In a hole
or crevice OF some sort. either in tree
or in almost any type OF building-a
cbad hridQa under
eaves-in short, anywhere where they
can find a deep. dark mole. 1t must be
deep enough to make 1t hard for any
enemy to dislodge them.
In such place they build a warm nest
OF grass, rubbish, and feathers. and lay
in from four 10 six pale-blue. unspotted
eggs. rather large. These are deposited
about the middle OF April. and by tho
last of the month the young are Matched,
and now again starlings are in evidence,
industriously carrying food. Before that
there is hardly a sign of starting.
They sneak in unseen. and will often
refuse 10 fly out even IL one should pound
or stone the tree
II forced out. the wary parent darts of
like a shot. disappears IN an instant, and
keeps out of sight till we are gone. Even
when they are feeding young they dis
like to return while any one is watching.
and / had hard time 10 find pair that
would return TO the nest when camera
was rugged near it.
In a few days we notice white drop
pings under the hole, and By the time
the young have left the surroundings are
plasteEed with alth. while inside the cav
ity It is horrible. I really think that the
starting ranks with the herons for moi
some disorder IN housekeeping. The
young appear at the mouth of the hole
and perch on the edge when large enough,
but they stay a long time before leaving,
By the latter part Of May or early June
there is usually another set of eggs 20
ineubate
The invasion OF our shores by the
English staFlings Is causing great deal
OF comment in pathological circles.
Have we another English sparrow pest
on our hands? people are everywhere be-
ginning TO inquire. This Is a question
which can hardly yet be answered with
certainty by a direct yes or no The
Federal government is making careful
scientific Investigations and has not yet
reported It's decision. 1t is safe, how
ever. 10 say this. that the starting is
liable 10 become a great pest and nui-
numbers, though IL has useful traits. and
is in some ways beautiful and inter-
estlng bird, far superior TO the English
sparrow.
The sum and substance OF the matter,
as far rs We have gone at present, seems
10 be that n the starting could remain
In only moderate numbers in a locality,
IT'S presence would not be particularly
Objectionable. but that II after spread
ing out all over the country, IL locally
increases 20 great numbers and immense
fiocks, as II gives every promise Of do
ing, il viii become a very serious menace
both TO our useful native birds and 10
agriculture.
Instances are frequently being called
to my attention Of starlings destroying
the eggs or young of our native birds.
1T is, too. / have observed. a most
filthy bird in its nesting habits. SO. since
il is notably a bird OF the town and city.
like the English sparrow. and resorts 20
buildings both TO roOst and 10 nest. if
il ever swarms in our towns and cities,
as IL Is rapidly coming TO do, IL may prove
a great nuisance