Evening star., 1933-12-19
Timely Observations
On District Starlings
to the Editor of The Star:

So long have we beheld old friend
startling beveling himself nightly along
the caves Of the Governments classic
architecture, or stringing himself in
beady lines upon the limbs of the syca-
more and elm timber that fanks the
venerable Avenue, that 1t would seem,
as the lawyers say. that this bird has
acquired the perpetual right of ease
ment for roosting as against Uncle
Sam and the world, human and fowl,
through adverse possession, anu l0rIg
continued user as contemplated by the
statute in such cases made and pro-
| yided.
What, no starlings! After seven long
| years continuous, nightly possession,
with "colorful title! Shades of Audit
bon! Yes, we have starlings! And he
is increasing in the inverse ratio of the
square to the length OF the nesting
season, year by year.
1t is noted that Mr.. Clifford Lanham,
who was so recently as last Saturday
elevated to the Craftsmanship OF the
Starting Nuisance Abatement Com
| mittee," is open to suggestions looking
| to sure and sudden method of deci-
mating this pesky, greedy creature.
But, little more seriously, may not
suggest that l claim, in no degree, to
be a specialist in the art Of eXtermi-
nation, be it bird, bug or beast. I
| have, however, for years been forced
often with some trepidation-to OBJ
serve his chief habits and eccentricl-
| ties, and submit that I can Isolate
starting at 100 yards, roosting or other
wise deporting himself.
1t is, however, in the interest OF
the Startling Committee, the lovers Of
our Grecian architecture, the eSthetic
admirers of our leafy-vaulted avenues,
and in defense and protection of the
bareheaded sheik-citizenry Of these
streets, that I beg leave to unfold for
your consideration the details Of this
fowl plot:
From early Fall until early Spring
the startling travels in the covey. The
majority Of these covies range outside
the city during the day and return TO
the city at night. While feeding IN
the fields of Maryland and Virginia I
observe that the ,covey is maintained
intact, much as is the habit Of the quail
or partridge. Apparently, therefore, 1t
should be matter of flock eXtermina-
ton.
In some sections Of the South the
practice once prevailed (now prohibited
by law) of snaring quail, and also wild
turkey, by the covey or flock. There
were several methods. One was by a
trap known as the pen" somewhat on
the principle Of the old-fashioned rat
trap. At the end of an approach
sprinkled with grain which ended un-
der the pen, was an opening to higher
level, large enough for the bird to enter
easily. Feeding along the approach,
when the leading bird reached the
opening to the pen, on the inside Of
which was a more plentiful supply Of
grain it would hop up through the
opening. This was sufficient sugges-
ton to the remaining flock.
After devouring all the grain within
the pen, the birds, finding themselves
in a large wire inclosure would then
begin making frantic efforts to escape
but always through the sides OF the
pen. and never downward through the
opening through which they came.
The starting is a most voracious bird
He feeds continuously during the day
light hours He is not so wild or wary
as the wild turkey, or even the quail!
HIS natural greed and feeding habits
contribute to his lack of caution
Therefore it is reasonable to assume
that he can be trapped in large NUM-
bers successfully, provided appropriate
statutes are passed permitting 1t. He
does not flock with other birds, and II
is assumed that the present game laws
are sufficient to protect the quail anc
other species. If such trapping Wer<
allowed to become general, within
few wears the startling would be aE
scarce as is the wild pigeon today
which is to say extinct.
Up to the present time we have nae
two wars with John BSu. .For a long
time since the last one we have hac
two good causes for at least the sew
ering of diplomatic relations again
, One is the English sparrow, the other
5 cheese with pie. To a marked extent
: the sparrow has removed himself since
| modern traffic became too dangerous
along his favorite habitat. So oul
; major grievance until the advent o
the starting. has been cheese with pie
And if you believe that an Engllshmar
has no sense of humor, start the spar
row and startling question and hea'
him chuckle.
without any intended disparagemen
of that deathless poem by the latt
Edgar Allan Poe, may I not, in clos
; ing plaearize or borrow a little Of tht
reflected glory of The Raven Tor 81
notorious a rogue as our old friend th(
! starting. even though the theft may bt
accounted by some vicious sacrilege
| But the starting, never fitting, still i
sitting. still is sitting
All along the coping just above th'
station door:
And his eye has all the meaning Of 6
little bird that's scheming,
And the moonlight Ger him streaming
lulls him into gentle snore,
But his feet from off that coping
Shall be lifted-nevermore!
ARCH. D. MONTEATH.