Evening star., 1949-11-30
This and That
By Charles E. TraceweU

And when you are watching birds In your
garden this winter. do not forget one OF the
best of them ALL ~
- None less than the startling
Given a new lease Of life in this city by
the common sense of one of the greatest
Americans, the starting Is a marked bird.
. He now not only has nature on his side,
but the Congress Of the United States.
That makes 10 potent combination.
The starting lis an imported bird, natural
In Europe, q wanderer here.
It amazes some folks to learn that this
bird is very much beloved creature in
England.
He may be found in many stories. In songs,
and Is particularly children's favorite.
Over there he finds natural competition.
larger birds such as owl, rocks. and SO on, all
Of them eating starlings by preference.
The result has been that over there these
big fellows present no problem in mass.
They are delightful. as individuals. no
matter what any one says, but in groups
they have their plain drawbacks
4
Starlings were first introduced into Amer
lea on March 6. 1890. when 80 were released
in Central Park, New York City.
Forty more were let loose In early April
Of that year.
. Attempts at introduction Of them had
been made before. but they had not been
successful.
It took about 10 years for the first star
lings to get out OF the city. but by 1900 they
were on their way. with what results we
all know.
During this time they have increased by
the thousands and thousands have built up
migration routes for themselves in new
4 fxiA aAc $onc "a
pending upon how you look at them.
In this world, it is a good idea to look
with favor on animals, II you can.
That way, less spleen is generated in the
human mind and heart. Be tolerant, and
try to see the good in an animal, and you
will be happier human being.
It is easy enough. with the startling. He
is, truly. fine fellow, and all one needs
is to let him assert himself, which he will
do easily in his turn.
Over in Europe there are starting haters,
and startling friends too.
Flocks of starlings are said to be able
to eat fruit orchards clean In IS minutes.
In Southern France. similar flocks take
take over an olive orchard and ruin whole
crop in short time.
Yet these losses would be only fraction
Of per cent, compared with the astounding
damage done by the wars Of man.
So even where they do damage, it is only
comparative, in a sense.
~ -
It was the starting, as introduced here.
that resulted in the Government authority
to regulate the import. OF birds to this
| country, 4 ~ 4s s@%
All the time, Old Man Startling and his
| numerous relatives and children has been
going right along, until today he has become
pest in some cities. ~
The starting offers real amusement and
interest to any one who will watch him
carefully. He is eager, inquisitive, not at
all bad citizen Of the bird world.
His easy access to food in this country
seems to have taken away from him some
of his bad traits, even. In Europe he was
said to attack the young Of sparrows. while
in the United States he rather helps sparrow
young.
We have seen starlings feed young SPAR
rows, and vice versa, and have watched an
old startling rescue baby sparrow foolishly
drowning in shallow pool because 1t did
not have enough sense to nap its way out.
II you have ever seen starting stand on
the back Of mate to eat a piece Of bread
in the snow, you will realize that here is
sound thinker, an athlete, and really
wonderful dyer. What more could YOU ask
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