[NatureNS] Starlings as aerial insectivores?

Date: Thu, 03 Sep 2009 08:45:34 -0300
From: Marg Millard <mmillard@eastlink.ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
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Yesterday as we drove from town about 10:30 am, I saw a large flock of birds that at first glance I thought oh! No! the swallows were blown back here via the storms as a number of years ago when I watched many, many die on Summerville Beach.  There was something about the flight pattern and the diving that wasn't as sweeping and elegant as that of the swallows. The birds were doing fine aerobatics. As what they were capturing seemed to disperse so did the birds and a couple landed on the wires just as we were passing the salt sheds at the west connector. They were starlings! I haven't ever noticed that before. have no idea what they were feasting on. Gives me a slightly different view to feeding the hordes now.
Marg Millard, White Point, Queens
http://MargMillard.ca

....................
Hi,

Twice today I have watched large but loosely-knit flocks of Starlings flying high, and behaving just like Swifts or Swallows - darting about  and certainly looking as if they are catching small aerial insects. I can't say I have specifically noticed that before, but I presume it's a common phenomenon for opportunists.

Richard

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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face=Arial size=2>Yesterday as we drove from 
town about 10:30 am, I saw a large flock of birds that at first glance I thought 
oh! No! the swallows were blown back here via the storms as a number of years 
ago when I watched many, many die on Summerville Beach.&nbsp; There was 
something about the flight pattern and the diving that wasn't as sweeping and 
elegant as that of the swallows. The birds were doing fine aerobatics. As what 
they were capturing seemed to disperse so did the birds and a couple landed on 
the wires just as we were passing the salt sheds at the west connector. They 
were starlings! I haven't ever noticed that before. have no idea what they were 
feasting on. Gives me a slightly different view to feeding the hordes 
now.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Marg Millard, White Point, Queens</FONT><FONT 
face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A 
href="http://margmillard.ca/">http://MargMillard.ca</A></FONT></DIV></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" 
size=3></FONT></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" 
size=3>....................</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" 
size=3>Hi,<BR><BR>Twice today I have watched large but loosely-knit flocks of 
Starlings flying high, and behaving just like Swifts or Swallows - darting 
about&nbsp; and certainly looking as if they are catching small aerial insects. 
I can't say I have specifically noticed that before, but I presume it's a common 
phenomenon for opportunists.<BR><BR>Richard</FONT><BR 
clear=all></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>

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