Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2002 10:40:41 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Thomas Stock Subject: Re: Delightful starlings Comments: To: NSawwhet@AOL.COM Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Disposition: inline I have simply loved this exchange on starlings, one of my favorite birds (just kidding...). I, too, have a starling anecdote. Back in 1986, I visited Dinas Hill in Wales, UK. I was in search of its most famous residents, the Red Kites. As I=20 wondered about the car park trying to decide which way to go, a staff naturalist came running up to me and=20 exclaimed, "Look! Up there!" I looked up and saw a starling flying by. The naturalist then said something like, "We never=20 see starlings here! Isn't it marvelous!?" I made a feeble attempt to share in his enthusiasm, then asked about any recent kite sightings. "Oh, sure," he said, nonchalantly,=20 "there's one right up there" - pointing to the side of a hill. =20 Sure enough, a Red Kite sitting on the ground, feeding on something. Got it in my scope and feasted my eyes while the naturalist went chasing the starling. =20 It's all a matter of perspective, right? Tom Stock Silver Spring >>> Steve Huy 01/17/02 10:06AM >>> Starlings are, indeed, fascinating birds. I enjoy watching their = activities in the early mornings. Their vocalizations and mimicry are = outstanding. They do have beautiful plumage and are rather intelligent. But they do not belong here. Perhaps if starlings were something to be = reported as a unique sighting I could appreciate them. But there is no = room for them in our land. Steve =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com=20 with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =========================================================================