The Birds - coming to a backyard near you!

It’s always fun to see this flock make their appearance every year!

They visited our yard 15 minutes ago! 

Saw them near CHS at midday. Big numbers -- very exciting (tho not my fave birds).

Here's some awesome shots of starling murmurations:

https://theatlantic.com/photo/2019/01/photos-murmurations-starlings/579286/

Some of these formations are spectacular. This one over Rahat, Israel. Amazing!

The true  story of Starlings in America:

All the European Starlings in North America descended from 100 birds set
loose in New York's Central Park in the early 1890s. The birds were
intentionally released by a group who wanted America to have all the
birds that Shakespeare ever mentioned. It took several tries, but
eventually the population took off. Today, more than 200 million
European Starlings range from Alaska to Mexico, and many people consider
them pests.

So disappointed that I missed them.

A Cardinal in our yard for the first time in months. 

Surprised at how much love starlings are getting here considering how hated they are by many bird people:

https://www.salon.com/2016/09/11/get-the-flock-out-of-here-starlings-are-the-worst-birds-ever/

I was driving down a road one evening as it was getting dark, and I thought the formation of flying black winged creatures above me that just went on... and on... and on... were bats -- like at the start of a horror movie. 

Looked a bit closer and realized they were birds. Then it just reminded me of a different horror movie... 

bub said:

The true  story of Starlings in America:

All the European Starlings in North America descended from 100 birds set
loose in New York's Central Park in the early 1890s. The birds were
intentionally released by a group who wanted America to have all the
birds that Shakespeare ever mentioned. It took several tries, but
eventually the population took off. Today, more than 200 million
European Starlings range from Alaska to Mexico, and many people consider
them pests.

Yes, the various 'acclimatisation societies' in each country, wanting their 'new' country to have the animals and birds that reminded them of the 'old' country, that being England.

Foxes were imported into Australia so that fox-hunting could be enjoyed by the few (just like 'Home').

The fox population exploded, decimating the indigenous wildlife. A research study conducted some years ago found that the southern city of Melbourne had one of the highest ratios of urban foxes to built-up area in the world.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-27/why-are-there-so-many-foxes-in-melbourne/8654868

& https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2020-09-13/foxes-love-the-urban-lifestyle/12616596