A question about Starlings

[willowjay]

A very busy starling has been bringing nesting material to the eaves on the gable end of our dining room (single storey house), and once it is inside we can hear the rustlings very clearly.

I'm delighted, though I know it's going to get a little noisy later.

Questions then - is it just one bird bringing the material (it seems to be)? Male, female? Do they already have a partner, or is it build first, pair-up later? And the brood - how many? how long is the incubation and feeding process likely to be? Can I do anything to help apart from keeping out of the way? - there are plenty of feeders, nuts, seed, fat balls etc and several sources of water and bird baths in the garden.

thanks

willowjay

[valleyforge]

Hi wiilowjay ...

The pair-bond generally forms before nest building commences, although the male may have previously selected and brought some material to several sites for the female to inspect. Often previous nest locations are reused by the same pair of course.

Nest building is a shared responsibility, with the male charged with bringing in the bulk materials for the construction, and the female handling the nest-lining (mainly straw and feathers).

The clutch is typically 4 to 6 pale-blue eggs, incubation beginning only after the last, or sometimes penultimate, egg has been laid. Incubation is shared by both parent birds, the eggs hatching in around 12 to 14 days.

Both parents also share feeding of the hatchlings, which typically fledge after around 21 days after hatching.. The fledglings remain dependent on the parents, being fed by them for perhaps a further 21 days.

The youngsters do call almost incessently during the day, but I'm sure the noise won't upset you too much. Don't think there's much you need to do, except to continue to provide food and fresh water ... but if you have a cat, please keep it indoors once the youngsters leave the nest.

[willowjay]

Thanks valleyforge, I hope they are a successful pair. I already spend much of my time in the garden shooing away the neighbour's cats (we have none of our own, I prefer birds!) and they are beginning to take the hint and leg it when I open the back door.

Last year there were many starling families in the surrounding area, and it was delightful to see - and hear - the youngsters following their parents around. I hope we add to the population this year.