The Starling in America 



207 



three had wintered in the town of Long- 

 meadow, about five miles from where they 

 had been Kberated. I saw these three birds 

 several times, but before the middle of spring 

 they had disappeared. About that time it was 

 reported by a farmer that at another place 

 nearby a Blackbird had spent the winter in 

 the vicinity of his house. Very likely this bird 

 was a Starling, as Blackbirds only very rarely 

 winter in this region. The meteorological 

 conditions of the year following the release of 

 these birds was about normal, except that in 

 July the rainfall was almost unprecedented, 

 nearly fifteen inches being recorded in Spring- 

 field for the month. Since the spring of 1898, 

 the presence of an unconfined Starling within 

 twenty-five miles of Springfield has not been 

 noted by any competent observer. — Robert 

 O. Morris. 



The Starling at Norwalk, Conn. 



Starlings were first discovered in Norwalk 

 in the spring of 1900 by Mr. Frank L. Hum- 

 medieu, who called my attention to them. 

 They were first seen by me on June 10, of 

 that year. 



They first located in the extreme south- 

 eastern part of the town, but now can be 

 found in various parts of the town, they hav- 

 ing increased much in number. 



I have heard some complaints against them 

 but I am apt to take it with a grain of salt and 

 have plenty of leniency for them, and believe 

 they do much good. Whether or not they will 

 be a desirable addition to our avifauna, 

 depends; some think not. — George P. Ells. 



The Starling at New Haven, Conn. 



1. The first bird I saw at New Haven was 

 on October 26, 1901. I did not see the species 

 again until 1903, and the first nest that I saw 

 was in 1904. 



2. At present the Starling is a common 

 bird in the city and in certain localities in the 

 surrounding country. It is increasing. In the 

 fall of 1906 I saw a flock in the salt marshes 

 near Woodmont, Conn., which I estimated at 

 about 1,500 birds. 



3. I do not think that the Starling is a 

 desirable addition to our avifauna. 



4. According to my observations the Star- 

 ling is iiiuch more fond of hollow limbs in 

 apple orchards, etc., than the English Spar- 

 row and, for this reason, is liable to have 

 more effect on the Bluebird and others than 

 the English Sparrow has had. In feeding 

 habits I believe that they are largely bene- 

 ficial, as they eat insects both in meadows and 

 pastures, and from the terminal twigs and 

 bark of elm and apple trees. In spite of this, 

 they are probably not so valuable as the Blue- 

 birds and others that they drive away, and are, 

 therefore, not desirable. — A. A. Satjnders. 



The Starling at Bethel, Conn. 



The Starling was first seen in Bethel during 

 the first week in April, 1907. On April 16 I 

 saw a pair building in the clock-tower of the 

 Congregational church. There was a shingle 

 off on its southwestern corner and they were 

 bringing dry grass from a sidehill nearby to 

 this hole. I saw them nearly every day after 

 this for about two weeks, when they seemed 

 to disappear entirely.— Robert S. Judd. 



The Starling at New Haven, Conn. 



I first identified the Starling in New Haven 

 on March 4, 1903. I had been in this city 

 only three months at that time and, judging 

 by the numbers then present, I think that 

 they must have been here as early as 1901. 



The Starling" is very common here and 

 seems to be well established. My daily bird 

 record, in which I record the birds observed 

 every day, shows that in the 218 days from 

 January i, 1907, to date (August 5), I have 

 recorded the Starling 213 times, although 

 there are other sections of the city in which it 

 is more abundant. 



Regarding their distribution, I would say 

 that on one occasion, during the summer of 

 1906, Mr. Philip Buttrick, my brother, and 

 myself observed the Starling at Stonington, 

 Conn. Stonington is fifteen miles east of 

 New London. 



I think that nearly all Starlings raise at 

 least two broods each year. I know of two 

 pairs both of which have raised two broods. 

 One of these pairs commenced the construc- 

 tion of their nest on April 3, and the second 



