"Superb Starling"
Kenya
Original Pastel
8 1/2" x 10 1/2"
SOLD

A resident family of small birds in Europe, Asia and Africa; many are strikingly coloured and iridescent. Starlings are fascinating birds with diverse and complex vocalizations, and have been known to mimic sounds from their surroundings, including car alarms, other bird calls and human speech patterns.

Ironically, the introduced European Starling that we are familiar with and that many here perceive as a pest is currently protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act in the U.K. making it illegal to intentionally kill, injure or take a starling, or to take, damage or destroy an active nest or its contents. Preventing the birds from gaining access to their nests may also be viewed as illegal, people are encouraged to check for active nests before any repairs to roofs and soffits are carried out during breeding season.

Hopefully, one day we will learn to appreciate their endearing qualities here in Canada as much as they are appreciated elsewhere in the world.