Suddenly Starlings
We don’t get many starlings in Sand Canyon because they don’t like desert chaparral, but the other day I heard an unholy cacophony of birdcalls from a juniper across the road. I got out binoculars and sure enough it was starlings, those annoying birds that were introduced to Central Park in 1890 and now number in the millions. We don’t have any fields of grain out here for starlings to feast on so I hope they’ll leave, but so far no luck. They’ve been hanging out on the telephone line in front of my house.
This morning I looked out my window and saw a huge flock of them whirling through the air like a cyclone, their bellies flashing silver when they turned like the undersides of cottonwood leaves. A hawk was after them and they took the same defensive posture as schools of sardines, only instead of swimming in an ocean of water, they were flying in a sea of air. I didn’t see the hawk get one but I suppose he did, because the starlings quit flying and settled back onto the wires like discordant notes, quiet at last.
Sand Canyon Almanac 
Love the images in this post, e.g. “their bellies flashing silver when they turned like the undersides of cottonwood leaves” and “settled back onto the wires like discordant notes”. Good writing, Madame!
Thank you. The raucous starlings have been replaced by peaceful doves. I hope that’s a sign of something good.