We added a new family member, a Starling names Kiwi... He is already starting to talk... His first words were 'Kiwi ..EAT!!!' Man what a clown. Smart, not quite as savvy as my House Sparrow (I've had all sorts of fancy birds and none come close to this guy's intelligence) but Kiwi keeps me in stitches. Most people know what a Mynah bird is...well they are a very close cousin to the Starling. Even Beethoven had a pet Starling! Starlings and House Sparrows, known to most birders as HOSPs, are non-natives here in the US and can be kept as pets legally (unless your state or city has some weird law about 'exotics'). There is a great deal of hate for both types of birds, most of it unfounded. Both usually nest in stupid places like eaves of houses and holes in walls where other birds do not, both eat massive amounts of insects that destroy crops and both eat loads of weed seeds...Man I need a few more of them in my garden! The HOSPs are very strong headed about their nest sites. They usually pair up for the year and males use the same nest site every year. If you want Bluebirds or other particular songbirds you need to keep the holes the right size and do not use a perch on the box. I think people should not go out and tell people what wonderful human beings they are because they love native birds and so they set traps and poisons for birds that are here because we humans brought them here... Sorry to get on a soap box... I just respect living things. If they are blue and sing or brown and just chirp they are all still living things... I have no issue with people who hunt...I have done so myself as long as you need and use what you hunt for.... you are a-ok in my book. There can be respect for animals in hunting...Native Americans knew and practiced that but to go about killing things for pleasure or because you have decided they have no right to exist...Sorry not OK in my book!
........
Ok
I'll be quiet now lol
Silver