Some one asked me to be more specific about my Starling 'Kiwi' that I posted a video of and the fact I said they are not 'cage birds'.. Here is my reply in case I confused anyone with what I said... :)
I know, I'm good at confusing people lol.
Human imprinted birds, even Starlings can be kept in cages for some reasons, and at some times. They cannot be kept as 'ornaments' to collect and look at from outside the cage as many people, unfortunately, do parrots, parakeets, cockatiels and finches. They, for their own safety, especially at night, need a secure place to sleep. If startled at night they might fly in fright and hurt themselves.
My birds do have 'bedroom' cages for lack of a better term. Some people I have met though never keep their imprinted in cages, I won't risk that nor do I want a house that looks like an encrusted pigeon visited park statue either! During the day these birds are so curious and intelligent they could get in all sorts of trouble if not supervised. They poke, prod and crawl into and under all sorts of weird things... not to mention anything they can pick up may just be swallowed! Our two Starlings 'Kiwi' and 'Lilly' spend many, many hours a day out with the family but do mellow out in their 'rooms' when, on the rare occasion no one is here, or another bird is out that does not get along with them so well (remember, they don't think they are birds when they are human imprinted and often do not get along with other birds, even those of their own kind).
'Softbill' birds, like Starlings, many types of finches, Loris and Toucans make a far bigger mess because of their diet than do seed eating birds. We just keep paper towels or baby wipes handy. The 'mess' is small by comparison to a parrot but wetter. It does NOT usually stain though and has NO smell. As the birds mature and are less fidgety and nervous about new things in our home they tend not to make a mess on you as often a when they were babies. A clean freak would probably not want a Starling in their house but with kids I learned long ago almost everything is washable. They can be caged at night and during unsupervised daytime hours (so long as that is not too many hours a day!) but do need rather large cages much like you would have for a very large parrot. The problem is they are sneaky and the bars must be close together or they will squeeze through. Most people make their own cages for them. It is not hard to do nor expensive.
If you ever have the chance to rescue one keep in mind that they require a different kind of care than a seed eating bird but IMO are worth every minute of it. Human imprinted House Sparrows (aka English Sparrows) are far easier to care for and if rescued and unable to be returned to the wild are super intelligent, lovable birds as well. We have two House Sparrows (which can be kept legally in most US states), one was a wild adult who suffered a destroyed wing after being hit accidentally by a car on a highway (my son and husband risked life and limb to save him), the other one, 'Woody' was rescued as a baby from a cat's mouth. He can wolf whistle, call my daughter's name and comes when called! (I'll post a pic of him bathing in my hands)
Go to www.starlingtalk.com if you want to learn more about Starlings or House Sparrows as pets!
Namaste!
Silver
Hate not the those people and things that you do not understand if you do not want to suffer the hatred of others because they choose not to understand who and what you are....
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!
An acquaintance of mine from long ago, a young guy, has a band (Hagy Lane) that just released an album on an Indie label. He is trying to get 8000 plays on his MySpace site for his music. It is Industrial / Hard /Metal rock, not always my cup of tea but some of the songs are really great. If you know of any one, (kids or adults) who like this sort of rock send 'em to his MySpace site and have a listen.
This is a nice, smart young guy who always treated me with kindness and respect, he really deserves success.
Already rescued a Starling from a local museum of flight.... I guess he thought all of those airplanes looked kinda cool...of course when he accidentally went into the Kitty Hawk Diner they were not so amused... He ended up in a hallway where they were about to do him in with a broom.... gee, he was cornered and very tired but after all he WAS an evil Starling...
If you ever get the chance read the book by Chris Chester called 'Providence of a Sparrow' I just started it, but it is hilarious. It is about a man who became the accidental 'guardian' of a House Sparrow...
This has been in the news lately. It has to do with symbols in Rosslyn chapel.
Of course anyone practicing 'magick' as well as musicians know only too well the power of sound, harmony and words. This shows patterns and how they they can be 'seen' in respect to harmonics and resonant properties. An unusual way of thinking about sound but those who work with electronic audio test equipment, physics, musicians and of course those of us who have 'synesthesia' know how sound and images can relate.
Throughout time certain patterns and symbols appear again and again. These pop up in different spiritual as well as cultural groups. I think that there are certain 'harmonics' we relate to as human beings. Perhaps that is all these symbols represent...human 'sounds'...who knows. It is cool though that someone has been able to 'decode' them in a way that sounds like music...
I may be on and off here a bit for a few weeks. I went to the other side of Chicago a few days ago and picked up not only a new sewing machine but a new 6 thread embroidery machine (head) ... woo hoo! lol
I have been looking at new embroidery machines for a while, I have had 2 home versions for the past 12 or so years and wanted to make a move up. The new machines of that sort were really no differant than what I have had and the price has sky rocketed. With a 6 thread semi-pro machine (head) if someone asks me to do a dozen shirts, a set of robes or altar cloths for a group, or a ten pack of hats I could say yes. It was cool how things worked out. Money that I was owed but had long ago given up on, showed up just in time for the machines to go on sale. I took that and what I have been saving, loaded up my old machine to trade and the best darn dealer in the area set me up right.
It will take a bit to get going but I am really jazzed. I started making wands (I am a wood carver as well) for a local store in the area about a year ago and was thrilled at the positive response. I knew then that making pagan specific 'tools' and wares was a niche I really wanted to fill. Now I can do stuff to earn my thread money AND help out with the things my kids are active with in school like making shirts and such for Band and Chess club.
woo hoo!
sorry....... I just had to say that one more time. ; )
Later!
Silver
I thank the Goddess for all she has helped me to reach on my path..........
Starlings can be kept in cages for some reasons, and at some times. They cannot be kept as 'ornaments' to collect and look at from outside the cage as many people, unfortunately, do parrots, parakeets, cockatiels and finches. They, for their own safety, especially at night, need a secure place to sleep. If startled at night they might fly in fright and hurt themselves.
