When the field corn starts to sweeten and the insect population starts to strengthen the Starlings come. They line the overhead telegraph wires like fat black pegs on a clothesline. They fly into the fields by the thousand feeding on the pests feeding on the corn and swoop back out in cascading formations. They fill the trees like a million fat flashing petals and chatter to each other their songless clatter reaching deafening proportions. And when you step out the door every sound stops, like turning off an efficient pouring tap with the snap of your fingers. Not one peep will be heard as they all swivel their eyes to you, holding their collective breaths then with the gush of a million clapping wings they will explode from the trees and fly like a wheeling school of flashing dark smoke straight to another tree. To be watched by a thousand narrowed eyes is an interesting thought.
I like the starlings, I know I shouldn’t but I do. I read that the Common Starling was introduced in the 1800’s into Grand Central Park in New York in a strange effort to introduce every bird mentioned in Shakespeare into their park. The Starlings have thrived and spread. They are a pest in the cities because of their noise and droppings but out here they eat their weight in insects every day in our unbalanced ecosystemless fields.
Where some insects develop out of proportion because of their resistance to the sprays and GM modifications so the Starlings have followed suit. I am fairly sure this theory of mine is completely unscientific but this is how it seems to me. The birds follow the insects and help keep them in control. But they are noisy and poopy and their sheer numbers and extraordinary ability to adapt enables them to compete with the native birds for food and nests (though many native birds actually join starling flocks .. safety in numbers and all that) but It is an odd unnatural balance on both sides. I like the starlings and every year I stalk them with my camera as they rest on the telephone wires in drooping lines numbering thousands, strung out along the road off into the distance. But they are too fast for me.
Yesterday An ambassador was sent forth from the Land of Joyful Filthy Pigdom. They chose the cutest one with the sticky uppy ears to approach me.
Miss c, he said.
Yes, piggie.
Can you open the gate again, we want to go out and play.
No, I said, you were naughty last night. You went under the fence and behaved badly in the next bay.
Do you mean the sheep, he said. I told them not to do it.
Rolling in the mud then cuddling up with a nice white sheep is naughty, Little piggie. How am I to get her clean.
How did you know, the pointy eared ambasssador said.
Because Tilly has the imprint of a pig on her side. I can even see your little muddy legs on her wool. I told him, attempting to look stern. A whole little piggie mark. Like a stamp.
We thought she might like it, said the ambassador. Kind of like a decoration. And she was so warm. She didn’t even get up.
I sighed. How are you getting out though, I said. I made a long low electric fence, it was hours of work.
Oh that’s easy, he said. It is a bit high by the pole. Oh, bugger. I should not have told you that. He paused and looked back at the others, they waved him on. How about an apple then. Can we have some apples?
Well, Yes, you can have an apple.
Can we go out and pick them, he looked hopelessly hopeful.
No, you can’t go out into the orchard, what would happen if you got lost in the corn. You can have apples but you have to stay in at night from now on. No more break outs.
Ok, he said, and ran back on his short fat legs to tell the others that I said that the first one to break out gets an apple.
It rained yesterday. Just poured.
Beautiful rain. Of course it was soon discovered that the trailer housing the chickens leaks like the proverbial sieve. So I had to create corrugated iron teepees inside the trailer to keep the chicks dry.
Our John could not work in the torrential downpours so he took an old mower apart and attached the wheels to The Ark. Thank you Michael for such a grand idea. The wheels even raise and lower. (Though carefully as the Ark is heavy) So I can lift them up when I pull it (which I can do by hand now) and lower it when I am done.
Excellent, now all we need is the chicks to grow a little bigger, poke through some adjustable roosts that will not trip them when it is on the move and cover it with the tarpaulin. All jobs I can do myself.
An inch of rain. Lovely.
Good morning. This morning as you can imagine is dense with a heavy fog borrowed from California. All that warm wet ground. The grass will be growing though, we have had a splendid season of forage in the fields.
Have a lovely day.
your friend on the farmy, celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
68 responses to “The starlings have come”
Celi, you must write a series of children’s books and today’s episode is picture perfect complete with the obligatory arc. It has everything–human interest, humor, something learned. Not to mention charm!
I know you might be saying to yourself “I don’t have enough to do?” but you’ve already done it!
But where does one begin !! It is a good idea to begin with the kids book though! I do write. I just need cohesion and maybe an agent! c
A tail worthy of a children’s book. Such a fine style and voice. Just right, C.
Bird communities are fascinating to watch – even the ones called annoying by some. Such a group there. ( and pesticides are damaging many populations – not an imagination or unscientific at all. Right on target) The bird flocks are mulling thoughts over here – wonder when they will move, but it so early.
As usual a delightful read – and happy for your rain.
You are welcome to our fog, Celi, but we could have used some of that rain in return! Goodness those piglets are a naughty bunch!
Pigs will be pigs they tell me! c
I loved the piggy story, I could see those ears moving and hear the grunts!
WOW! That was some rain! Standing in water rain!
We are hoping for at least several more weeks of dry weather….please, please, please!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
One could wake up in Pit Viper mode; snakes hissing on one’s head (mine) and then a read about Piggy, the ambassador, and the hiss disappears totally. I’m recommending a book, a memoir called Bootstrapper, from broke to badass on a northern micigan Farm – Mardi Jo Link, about a woman and her 3 sons, recently divorced, keeping her 6 acre farm. Lord knows when you have time to read, but I suspect you will love the book. Best to you.
For some reason I haven’t been notifications for your blog posts all week. I’ve been following for over a year and never had this problem until now. I’ve re-subscribed twice and still am getting nothing. Any ideas on how to fix this?
No, if you have unsubscribed and resubscribed that would be my only suggestion, however this is also happening to a few others so maybe there is a glitch in the word press program. Hopefully they sort this out, I shall send a message and THANK YOU for following for so long, that is really lovely.. c
Haven’t unsubscribed so it’s odd, but I remembered you posting awhile back about it happening to others as well. There is one other blog I follow and I still get email notifications for it. I did finally get a notification for your post today but instead of showing up this morning it showed up an hour ago (9 PM). Hopefully it does start working properly.
No problem and thank you for the awesome blog! My husband and I have learned a lot by following your posts.
I have just been to the supermarket and guess what I saw? A bottle of wine with a line of birds on the label. It was called Fat Bird and it came from New Zealand!
Fantastic. Fat Bird!. I have not heard of them. Did you buy it? Let me know how it tastes. I love the whites from home.. c
Good afternoon Celi; I figured john was no slouch when it came to ingenuity. i figured he would include the mountings from the lawnmower, it seems the smartest way to adjust it to the right height. The piggy story should be put in a small kids book of funny stories and be published ! the fastest way to be published is to start with kids.Look how many adults loved it 🙂 you should at least put it together to see if it could be. You really have a talent with the rhyming when you are speaking with the animals and all be a blessing mike
I think it would be awfully hard to say “no” to that ambassador. The wet Farmy is beautiful…Funny how you and Linda at Life on a Colorado Farm had starling posts on the same day…It’s time, I guess.
Her swallows are leaving and my starlings are coming, the seasons are moving right along! c
I’m glad you still see clouds of starlings. Whilst growing up I used to see them in flocks, but in London I only see them one at a time.
I’m glad someone likes starlings.
Celi, I do hope you have plans to write children’s literature. That was such a lovely, albeit naughty, piggy story! 😀
I love the photo of the flower with the droplets!
What naughty little pigs 😉