Perhaps not for the squeamish (1 Viewer)

[ChrisKten]

I'm not sure how many of you get to see Starlings from fledglings to adult each year, so thought I'd share a few observations:

Starlings love water - I mean they really love splashing around in water. One of the first things a fledgling Starling does when it arrives in my garden, is splash around in the bird baths... the second thing is beg the parents for food. The problem for fledgling Starlings, is they're not fully feathered like an adult - they can fly, but if they get wet, they can only get a few inches of height until they dry off. This means I have a garden full of wet fledglings running back and forth flapping their wings trying to get dry. They also have loads of attempts to get into the trees, but most end in failure, so they go back to trying to dry off.

Now all this noise and activity doesn't go unnoticed by predators, so I spend a lot of my time soaking the local Cats. Cats love the squeaky noise a Starling makes when in pain, and will play with one for as long as they can keep it alive (if it's lucky, it dies in minutes... many last for hours). Sparrowhawks notice the activity too, but they're not well-fed pets, so I don't interfere.

Crows and Magpies also notice the activity, and have the advantage of the Starlings only being nervous of them at first. They hiss and scold Corvids, but they don't react in the same way as they do with Cats or Sparrowhawks... not until the first fledgling is taken by a Corvid. Usually, the fledgling is better off being taken by a Crow than a Sparrowhawk - a Crow will bludgeon the fledgling to death before eating, a Sparrowhawk will eat the fledgling alive. Also, the timing of Starlings fledging means they encounter young and inexperienced Sparrowhawks, this often means a clumsy and prolonged attempt to restrain the fledgling.

I've attached one pic taken yesterday morning through smeary double glazing (it was raining) - don't click on the thumbnail if you're squeamish, although the fledgling is quite dead, and there's no blood visible. The fledgling had recently had a wash, and then it rained... so no chance of getting dry. I didn't see the Crow kill the fledgling, but because I never heard it, I know it was a quick death.

 

[fugl]

Very interesting post. There must be some very compelling reason indeed for young starlings to bathe under such circumstances.

 

[ChrisKten]

The same thing happens each year, Fred; some of the Crows are at least 5 years old, so they must have learned to expect it each year. Maybe their breeding is timed to fit in with the Starlings fledging... maybe it always has been.

Starlings are the only bird that really looks like it enjoys water - I know it's me seeing what I want to see, but they look happy splashing around. I guess it would make sense to want to wash after being in the nest for weeks, but they retain this "love" of water throughout their lives. Years ago, I even saw a fledgling Starling with a white feather go back into the bird bath in the afternoon... in the morning it barely escaped a Magpie.

I always have a mixture of wonder and dread at this time of year... it's fascinating watching the young learn about the world, but I never like seeing them killed... even though they are often fed to young of another species of bird.

 

[KC Foggin]

As I have said before, a raw moment in nature but nature nonetheless. A terrific narration Chris.

 

[Nutcracker]

Starling fledging day here today - none yesterday, then suddenly the whole lot today. This synchronisation floods the predators' food requirements, so even if some get taken, plenty others survive.

Fledging day this year is one day earlier than normal (20 May, here). Exceptionally, I've known it to be up to 2 days late. Quite remarkable consistency from year to year.

 

[ChrisKten]

Starling fledging day here today - none yesterday, then suddenly the whole lot today. This synchronisation floods the predators' food requirements, so even if some get taken, plenty others survive.

Fledging day this year is one day earlier than normal (20 May, here). Exceptionally, I've known it to be up to 2 days late. Quite remarkable consistency from year to year.

The earliest Fledgling Starlings turned up in my garden was 5th May (2014) - Latest was 21st May (2009)

They're usually in my trees a few days before - I hear them, but don't see them until they are fed on the lower branches by the parents... I've no idea where they nest locally, but there's a few oldish houses nearby, so maybe nesting under the eaves.

It's possible that when fledgling Starlings appear in my garden depends on predators, rather than when they fledge. There's years when a non-breeding (or just wandering) 2cy Sparrowhawk has visited my garden regularly during May... not the regular male, "Fred" (who breeds elsewhere), but the previous years birds. Sometimes a male, sometimes a female... (other times nothing in the changing plumage or size to guess which sex). This year Fred left late April, but no young Sparrowhawks are "lending" his territory ATM. Although I did see a soaring Sparrowhawk yesterday, but it was too high to tell age or sex

 

[Franmol]

I thought that this might be of some interest to you. I also get fledgling Starlings in the garden where they usually stay until they're more capable when they all fly off with parents. One year I had an experience I'd not seen before or since when the young ones were bathing but perhaps on this occasion taking things a bit too far. One young Starling finished his prolonged bathing and try as he might as he got out of the bath, just couldn't stand upright. He was on his back, with his legs all over the place. It was as though he might be suffering from cramp as some people do while swimming! I intervened and placed him upright but over he went on to his back again. After several futile attempts, I wrapped him in a towel which kept him upright and left him there. I moved away but close enough to interfere if I had to. After about an hour, I unwrapped him and to my great pleasure he toddled off into safety. Within literally 2 minutes, a parent had fed him!

 

[delia todd]

How strange Franmol.

I'm just wondering if he got water in his ears, which upset his equilibrium?

Guess we'll never know!

 

[ChrisKten]

I thought that this might be of some interest to you. I also get fledgling Starlings in the garden where they usually stay until they're more capable when they all fly off with parents. One year I had an experience I'd not seen before or since when the young ones were bathing but perhaps on this occasion taking things a bit too far. One young Starling finished his prolonged bathing and try as he might as he got out of the bath, just couldn't stand upright. He was on his back, with his legs all over the place. It was as though he might be suffering from cramp as some people do while swimming! I intervened and placed him upright but over he went on to his back again. After several futile attempts, I wrapped him in a towel which kept him upright and left him there. I moved away but close enough to interfere if I had to. After about an hour, I unwrapped him and to my great pleasure he toddled off into safety. Within literally 2 minutes, a parent had fed him!

That would have been funny to watch, but worrying too. I've seen a bird in distress due to heat/humidity behave in a similar way, but I've no idea what you saw, as I'd imagine the water would cool it down in those circumstances.

They're great little birds, and they make me smile many times each year - I just wish I didn't see so many killed (lost two to feral cats last week... cat was gone with a screeching fledgling before I even got the door open)