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Whilst having a coffee in the garden I witnessed a starling pick off a petal or piece of a flower off a flowering viola and carry it up to its nest above me in the eaves. It did this several times and only ever plucked at the yellow viola ignoring the other colours. What on earth is it doing. I believe it has a second brood in its nest so it can't be nest building. Could these petals being fed to chicks? Never saw this before??
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How odd
, no idea why though, sorry.
A garden is a lovesome thing, God wot! (Thomas Edward Brown)
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Violas are edible flowers so I'm guessing they are being used as food but why the yellow ones I don't know, maybe more tasty?!?LOVE growing food to eat in my little town back garden. Winter update: currently growing overwintering onions, carrots, lettuce, chard, salad leaves, kale, cabbage, radish, beetroot, garlic, broccoli raab, some herbs.Comment
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Decorating the nest maybe ?Location....East Midlands.Comment
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OK, wild guess here. Starling beaks are apparently yellow during breeding season. Maybe it's to do with attracting a mate using the colour yellow.Comment
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Interesting responses indeed. Regarding the yellow colour I know blackbirds and other birds peck at yellow crocus and not the other colours but how that helps with this starling question I don't know. Might be an interesting one to give to Springwatch to answer.Comment
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A couple of years ago a starling pulled out a lavender sprig with flowerhead attached & took it up to it's nest in the corner of my roof. I thought it might be to keep bugs away,I found this link talking about this,it sounds like decoration
Breeding
The male finds a nest site and then uses his song to attract a mate. It is also the male who builds the nest and includes things such as fresh flowers, green leaves and herbs. The male also engages in wing-waving in which he half extends his wings and rotates them while singing. This seems to be a way of attracting a mate. In breeding season the female is dominate, perhaps because there are two males for every female starling.
European Starlings: Information Resource on Sturnus VulgarisLocation : EssexComment
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So the male is like Larry Llewelyn -Bowen
If my OH was a starling ..I dread to think. Nest would be decorated in bit of old cars and diggers
I wonder what other members would be like...
Northern England.Comment
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My OH would decorate the nest with any old antiques he could get his hands on, me included!Dogs have masters, cats have slaves, and horses are just wonderfulComment
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.........:d :dNorthern England.Comment
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Well my house would be pretty drab then, since I'm on my own!! LOLComment
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Perfect catch for mr starling , has has nowt to doOriginally posted by SarrissUK View Post
Northern England.Comment
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I think its a male bird that's done something wrong and well.... flowers is the only way to apologize.
Yellow may be her fave color
If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it.Comment
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