Bless The Sparrows; Damn the Starlings

This morning I was sitting at the kitchen table having some breakfast. A few days ago, I had filled my birdfeeders outside the window, and along the fence. These feeders have been empty all summer and my morning visitors have not been visiting.

It always amazes me that they come almost as soon as I fill the feeders. It’s like they instinctively know, or they are watching from their bird’s eye view for me to welcome them back to the yard.

I guess I have the notion that during the summer months, they have all sorts of opportunities to feed in nature but maybe they need a little extra help during the fall and winter. But this morning, I’m reminded that my intentions to attract them are for more selfish reasons.

I like to watch them …

I have some flowers blooming near the feeders and they are more intended for the bees and butterflies to pollinate and do their wonderful things to preserve life on this Earth. But also, I get excited when I see them attracted to the cosmos and the zinnias and the sunflowers. It makes me feel good inside that I’ve done this thing to help them out.

In this little area of my yard, I have purposefully set up things that will attract the birds, bees and butterflies. In addition to the bird feeders, I have a bird bath, bird house, butterfly house and bee hotel. I do not mow often in this area so that they have plenty of grass and even weeds to nurture on and take cover as needed. I DO NOT use weedkiller on my yard at all, and even when my former neighbor (the preacher guy who owned the house next door but didn’t live there) sprayed the fence row with Round-Up, I placed a sign on my fence asking him to NOT spray near my flowers, fence or doghouse as I was trying to take care of God’s creatures. My every intention for this little area of my yard is to attract and provide haven for these birds, bees, butterflies and of course, Bruno.

In addition to the birds, the squirrels also take advantage of the fat of my land (suet). The food is not put out for squirrels, but I admit, they partake and most likely eat more of the food than the little birds. I do get a kick out of watching the squirrels, but I recognize that they can be a nuisance too.

This morning, something struck me as I was watching these creatures. Most of the ones at my window are sparrows, wrens, and cardinals (and a squirrel here and there). I did hear a woodpecker near the living room window earlier. Also, I was reminded that the starlings may be coming soon and they are aggravating and bullies to the other little birds.

So, what if and what would you think of me, if while attracting all these birds to my sanctuary, I decided that I needed to attack the birds that I do not find as pleasing or welcomed to my yard. The promise of sustenance and sanctuary is indeed attractive to all the birds … should I fault the starlings and woodpeckers (and squirrels) because they want to benefit from my bounty?

Then … something more serious tugged at my heart. I got to thinking about our country … the sanctuary called the United States of America. Incredible bounty, incredible amounts of sustenance, incredible opportunity abounds and attracts God’s creatures from places where life is not so rich and even safe.

What a terrible person I would be if upon building such an attractive sanctuary for the birds, bees, butterflies and all the other partakers, I decided to take a b-b gun or slingshot to the ones I find less appealing. Is it the fault of the starlings and squirrels that I only intended to attract a certain “kind of bird”?

Maybe if I knew more about the starling … if I understood the starling … I might be more inclined to tolerate, perhaps even welcome them to my backyard too.

Here are some tidbits about starlings …

• Starlings are NOT NATIVE to the United STATES (foreigner birds); they are not related to the blackbird or Grackle. Starlings are iridescent black with speckles. Grackles are black with purple-blue sheen. Sometimes it’s hard to tell a starling from a grackle.
• While many consider them to be pests, they also are very good at controlling pests and can be beneficial to agriculture. (hmmm … they do the work that other birds don’t do … migrant farm workers)
• They eat tons of gypsy moths, caterpillars, flies and fly larvae (maggots), and many other obnoxious insects
• Starlings congregate in large groups. They tend to “stick together” and compete for nesting cavities with other birds such as bluebirds and woodpeckers.
• Mated pairs of starlings are usually monogamous and are devoted parents.
• Starlings are known for their gracefully synchronized aerial murmuration dances.
  • https://youtu.be/XufasdTrLb8
• Starlings are intelligent birds and they engage in many unique behaviors that enable them to thrive in harsh environments.

But did you know? While starlings are considered “invasive birds” … so are sparrows? We are surely familiar with the song, “His Eye Is On The Sparrow.” This song often brings comfort to us recognizing that if God sees and cares for such an insignificant creature as the sparrow, He will surely care for us. As well, the sparrow (and the starling) are considered nuisances … and yet, God takes care of them. I’m certain there are plenty of times when I’ve been much like these birds … a nuisance … and still here, still blessed … still loved and cared for by my Creator.

The sparrow plays its part in God’s Creation. I believe that all God’s Creation plays its part, regardless of our “perception” of these creatures. For example … in researching the lowly starling, I find many suggestions for ridding our backyards, farms and sanctuaries of them. But as I am reading and watching videos more and more … I’m impressed with a message from God that is LOUD AND CLEAR … coming through those mesmerizing murmurations that I mentioned above.

The MESSAGE IS UNITY!

Perhaps watch that video of the murmurations again. It seems to me that everything God does in nature and creation begins with, results in UNITY. It’s not about conformity, as each aspect of His Creation is diverse and individualized … but through transformation and togetherness … the “MISSION OF UNITY” is absolutely mind-blowing. Perhaps that why it is so difficult for us to achieve … so elusive to our existence.

This morning, I believe God was reiterating in my heart and mind that I cannot be and should not be so selective, so arrogant … so self-centered … as to think I can control His MISSION OF UNITY. If I put out seed and suet to attract the birds … it is cruel for me to pick and choose, or drive away certain birds just because I like other birds better.

That would not be Godly … it would not be humane … it would not be unified with nature or creation. It would just be cruel and mean.

Clearly God says to me today … you cannot bless the sparrow and damn the starling …

“I created them both for My Purpose and My Glory.” ~ God