A lot of people think of starlings as “invasive species.” Illegal aliens, as it were. Invaders of this continent from another, far away. But it’s not as if starlings had anything to do with plotting such an invasion. It’s our species—Homo sapiens—that brought them here from Europe.
Sure, starlings can be loud, voracious, and abundantly present wherever you look. But they’re also amazing mimics (I still think of one that could perfectly imitate a chainsaw), and their murmuration flights inspire nothing but awe.
Had some errands early this day, so Jack and I didn’t hike until late morning. By that time—for some chance reason—starlings had shown up in numbers both at home and at the trailhead. And I was glad.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 11:40 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay**
2. House Finch*
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. European Starling*
5. Black-billed Magpie*
6. Dark-eyed Junco
7. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
8. Northern Flicker (v)
Elsewhere
9. Rock Pigeon
10. House Sparrow (v)
11. California Quail (v)
Mammals
Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, California quail, dark-eyed junco, European starling, house finch, house sparrow, lesser goldfinch, northern flicker, red squirrel, rock pigeon, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
