[birding] Any recent sightings of the starling flock? Ross's Geese

[Paul Rentz]

Someone mentioned, after seeing my pictures of the flock of turkeys on
Brooklane in Corvallis, that there are some birds that are fascinating to
watch but a pain to have around. We had such an experience with a huge
starling flock that was roosting in trees directly across the street from us
on the top of Nash Ave. I called an extension agent to ask about this
sighting as they darkened the sky every night at sunset from 45th to 53rd
(the horse barns to just before 53rd and Suburban Church) before finally all
settling in in that very tight area for the night- then would take off again
at sunrise. The agent said this was a flock of between 250,000 and 500,000
and that they had been on Western for two years before. Apparently they like
to roost in a stand of tightly packed fir trees in the ten to fifteen foot
height range. This activity started in January of 1998 and lasted until
March or so, and again the following year then they moved on. No, they
didn't make a mess at our house. I'd come home a little early to watch them
though, right from the front deck- here's a couple of pictures. Has anyone
seen them around this year?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/2397661951_16438e1968_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2413/2397662095_f506303ce9_b.jpg

About every direction you could look south looked just like this!

 

I too saw the Ross's Geese at Finley. I thought they were albino geese at
first but my 'bird' friends were pretty sure they were Ross's. I have a
distant shoot I'll post later.

 

Paul Rentz

 

 

 

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