[higgmeister]

Why would anyone want to save a starling? They are filthy foreign pests that flock by the millions, crash airliners and make a nuisance where ever they fly or roost. They compete for habitat with native birds and are considered to be an invasive species.

[wardaddy]

Precisely my reaction

We shoot em round here for practice

I actually caught a confused Robin in air circling around me in one of my glass car wash bays

I grabbed it in one very luck grab.....coddled it and took it outside and released it to fly away handsomely

A soccer mom and her kids watching got misty eyed and cheered

It felt good....to release a quivering noble bird like the earnest robin to flight from my own hand felt really amazing....like giving life to flight

No worries...I still shoot and eat dove and duck

[ransomnote]

WHen I was 7 years old, living out in the sticks, we had no starling pest problem. My father was a bush pilot (prop engine) and had no problem with starlings - he was ‘concerned’ about ducks, geese etc. Hawks may have kept the small bird population down or under control but I might have though ravens/black birds or whatever big cawing birds they were that covered the trees could be classified as pests.Lastly, we had no idea what species it was to begin with. His name was “Hot Lips” because he was all beak and big eyes but no feathers or hint of what he would grow to be. No regrets there.