With every post about birds, I seem to be sinking deeper and deeper into ornithology. Dangerous stuff, really. You start with a single photo from the archives, and before you know it, you’re reading scientific papers at three in the morning.
I came across these starlings years ago, perched on an old fence in some godforsaken village. Judging by their rather plain brown plumage, they were still very young. At that age, it’s easy to mistake a starling for an entirely different bird: none of the glossy black feathers and delicate pale speckles that make adults so recognizable. Back then, I was younger and less experienced myself, so I had no idea what I was photographing — I just liked the classic rural shot of birds on a fence.
Starlings become independent surprisingly early. Once they leave the nest, young birds quickly learn to find food for themselves and soon join other starlings. Adults, meanwhile, look as though someone finally explained to them how to dress properly: glossy black plumage, a metallic sheen, and a neat pattern of pale spots. They look particularly smart in spring.
I have to admit, though, I prefer the youngsters. There’s none of that adult starling dignity yet — they just sit on a country fence, looking around and getting acquainted with this rather large world. Although, judging by how quickly they took off when I got closer, they probably would have preferred to get acquainted with it without my involvement.
@alexanderfluke's pictures
@nelinoeva