Applegater Winter 2018
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BIRD EXPLORER
The Starlings of autumn
BY PETER J. THIEMANN
Starlings flock in large numbers to reduce threats from predators
such as peregrine falcons. Have you seen their murmurations as the sun sets?
Photos courtesy of Peter J. Thiemann flickr photo stream.
Duskywings of the
oak woodlands
The European Starling is a Eurasian
species introduced to North America by
the Shakespeare Society in New York
City in 1890. Starlings were mentioned
in Shakespeare’s work as a charismatic
birds. Mozart kept one as a pet. Books
were written about the Mozart starling,
with some suggesting that this bird
influenced his music compositions.
The starling is a very handsome bird
species, with iridescent colors that show
when the light falls right. Starlings sing
year-round. In fall, here in the Rogue
Valley, you can see flocks of hundreds if
not thousands gathered on our autumn-
colored trees to roost and sing.
Some biologists don’t like this
bird species—regardless of its insect-
control diet—because it aggressively
outcompetes other native bird species
for cavity nesting sites.
Starlings have multiplied rapidly in
North America, but the population seems
to have leveled off. In Europe, however, it
is another story—this species is in a sharp
decline, and
Peter J. Thiemann
nobody knows
why. So this is another reason to cherish
a beautiful bird here in its adopted land.
One of the starlings’ survival strategies
is to flock in large numbers, which
reduces threats from predators such as
peregrine falcons. If you have ever seen
their truly spectacular murmurations
as the sun sets, you have witnessed
synchronized aerobatic maneuvers that
are matched by few bird species.
Starlings can be found in many
habitats often associated with man-
made structures but also in wild places.
This year I saw starlings in Yellowstone
National Park riding the backs of
bison—just like blackbirds.
Ornamental trees with colorful
autumn leaves, like those in Costco’s old
parking lot in Medford, are good places
to find and listen to a starling concert
in autumn.
Peter J. Thiemann
peterjthiemann@yahoo.com
Applegater Fundraiser News
BY LINDA KAPPEN
Duskywings, which belong to the
butterfly family of Hesperiidae, are
also known as Skippers. Our largest
duskywing, the Propertius Duskywing
(Errynnis propertius), is also the most
strongly marked on a smoky gray and
soft brown base color, while other
duskywings are smaller and darker,
with much less contrast. The Propertius
Duskywing can be up to 1-3/4 inches
across on open wing.
The Propertius Duskywing lives in
oak woodlands where its host plant is
the oak species Garry oak, also known
as Oregon white oak (Quercas garryana).
A nest of oak leaves provides shelter for
the larvae to overwinter while they wait
for pupation in early spring. In southern
Oregon, the period from spring through
summer can produce a few generations
of the Propertius Duskywing.
The Propertius Duskywing can be
seen in flight from March through July.
They are most likely to be seen in and
near the oak woodlands with which they
are associated. They fly quickly through
grasses, stop to nectar on flowers, and
open their wings to bask in a sunny spot.
They are easily mistaken for moths.
They range from southern British
Columbia to Baja, California, and follow
the Garry oaks from the coast to the
Siskiyous and east to Nevada. It is one
of the larger groups of butterflies flying
in spring in our area.
In southern Oregon and here in the
Applegate, where we have a good number
of oak woodlands, their populations are
healthy. The leaves that fall under the
oaks in our natural areas need to be left
undisturbed to provide their habitat.
When children net butterflies at
Applegate School, duskywings are the
first Skipper they learn about. Cries of
“There goes a duskywing!” are frequent.
Fun fact: The Propertius Duskywing
butterfly is named after the Greek poet
Sextus Propertius.
Linda Kappen
humbugkapps@hotmail.com
Propertius Duskywing. Photo: Linda Kappen.
The Applegater’s 2018 Savory Shindig fundraiser at Valley View Winery was fun for
all. Thank you to our sponsors and donors and everyone who attended!
Stay tuned for plans for our 25th birthday celebration in 2019!
Photo: Cathy Rodgers.