🚀 go-pugleaf

I do. They are survivors, tough & hardy. One of the great sights of the Fall
on the east coast is watching the starlings flocks 'balling up' to evade
attacks by merlins & peregrines. Their tactic is to bunch up tightly & keep
climbing so they stay above the falcon. When the falcon climbs after them
they rise some more. The flock stays tightly bunched so that the falcon
cannot pick out an individual target. It is a very effective tactic, usually
the hawk just gives it up as more effort than it is worth.
oftenbirder <oftnbrdr@dwx.com> wrote in message
news:37FCBCD6.D3520DF4@dwx.com...
> Here in the States, the Euro-Star is a bird of
> many talents, like raiding the peanut feeder
> and/or the suet feeder in RECORD TIME
> and clinging on to these feeders with one toe,
> while totally upside down - while laughing at you
> as you watch in disgust, and the other birds
> sit nearby, thinking of the other feeders in the area.
> ~ Generally speaking, they aren't well liked.
>
> BUT I noticed something pretty cool --
> A couple of years ago, I noticed that the starlings
> were doing the Bald Eagle's call in the late fall.
> Last year, they started the eagle mocking near the
> end of October -- I have never heard this in the
> spring or summer, and it seems to lessen through
> the winter.  SO, I figure that the starlings must be
>           CALLING THE EAGLES.
>     (A very good reason to appreciate them.)
>
> This morning, (Oct 7th) I heard it again -
> first time this year.  Winter must be coming!
>
> Best birding to you all,
>
> Amy O
> Des Moines, Iowa
>