Seven Starlings Story! by Fiona Phipps

Ooppps ran out of space....every time I went out the door they would land on my head and shoulders....it was a nightmare trying to get in the car.

Great painting and great story and great compassion and care Fiona.

A lovely pastel Fiona, and story.

By chum great picture and story Fiona. Had lots of encounters with birds. Inspired by a book in which two ladies saved the lives of many oiled sea bird off the coast of Cornwall; me and a friend set up a what we called a bird hospital. We kept it going until my friend went of to university. Great times.

Oh Fiona what a lovely kind person what a story and what a lovely picture gold star for kindness and charming picture

You can't not try Mick, I can't anyway! I sometimes wish I couldn't, it's very time consuming but I must admit, if all goes well and you can release, I get a great buzz! Thank you David, appreciated. "By chum"...like it John. Good for you, funny how we start on the road to doing these things. I had a young, under nourished hedgehog last year to feed up, cost me a fortune in cat food...lol. It was worth it though, he's paying me back now eating the slugs. I also reared a Song Thrush last year and he's eating the snails! I'm only kind to birds and animals David...sorry to shatter your illusion!lol Thanks very much!

The stories of your experiences are as captivating as your pictures! Another lovely piece of work.

Another captivating story, Fiona and a super sketch full of character.

Never knew that baby Starlings ate Pedigree Chum. That's possibly why we have few of them round here. I've been putting out the wrong food..LOL. Actually, I love birds myself and after seeing few Starlings here for a couple of years I was worried about them and wondered why. Then, this Spring, a flock of them descended on the bird feeder and cost me a small fortune to keep refilling the thing! They've since flown off somewhere possibly to your house searching out the 'Chum'. You tell a lovely story Fiona and paint a good picture of your little friends!

We will have to call you St Francis Fiona! You are so good with these little waifs. Sounds funny them sticking to your jumper but it must have been hard work! Love the way they are eyeing up that tin of grub :))

That's very kind Keith thank you very much. It's a bit rough round the edges Peter but hopefully it gives the general idea of young Starlings.....thanks very much. Many thanks Kirstie, hard to believe these little plain brown birds turn into little feathered jewels when they moult out. Louise, baby Starlings will eat anything believe me, they have ferocious appetites! I fed them from the handle part of a teaspoon, I got away with this only until they opened their eyes.....then it was every Starling for themselves!lol It had to be food from fingers then, what a mess. I think the sale of kitchen roll went sky high during this time. So now you know two of my bird charming secrets; Friday night is Turlish Delight night for Spuggies and it's Pedigree Chum puppy food for hungry Starlings.

Another wonderful story and painting Fiona, you're a one woman RSPB!

Lol Carole, I didn't mind really, it is so time consuming feeding every 15mins in some cases, depending on the bird and what they eat of course.....Starlings and puppy food was easy! One of the birds last year was a Song Thrush and what do they eat...worms and snails...there's a story for another picture. Thank you very much for looking and commenting Carole. Yes I'm a member but I didn't realise when I paid my subscription it was hands on !!lol Thank you Christine for taking the time to comment.

Lovely painting and great story - what a talented lady you are in many ways ;-)

a lovely tale of kind heartedness, combined with a lovely pastel sketch.

A lovely story and wonderful painting. They will never forget you.

What happened to them afterwards? Did they fly away and did they come back to mummy? Lovely story Fiona and a lovely little painting of your pedigree birds.

Yes, I want to know what happened to them when they grew into "big" birds too Fiona :) A funny and heartwarming story with a lovely pastel to illustrate it, we'll have to start calling you the "birdlady" of Galloway.

Touching story Fiona. Lovely pastel piece.

Nice one Fiona, nice little painting and a great story, when I was still at school (back in history) I was considered a bit of an odd ball because I preferred looking after wild things rather than shooting them, as a result someone once brought me a Black headed gull chick they had found, obviously someone had taken it from a local colony and then abandoned it, anyway I named it Fury because of the few pecks it kept giving me, and reared it on sprats that the local travelling fish man would give me from his van, no charge ! , I eventually released it near to a local inland colony and away it flew. Yours sounded an epic WELL DONE. 👏👏👏

Nice pastel sketch, Fiona, and just love your bird stories. Reminds me of a young Jackdaw we tried to save a couple of years ago - found it in our garden soaking wet and unable to fly, the others had fledged successfully, but the parents gave up on it, so I put it in a safe corner of the garden and fed it each day - it used to hop up on to the bird table each morning when I went out to feed it. After a couple of weeks it got stronger and was able to fly short distances around the neighbouring gardens, but always came back. Then one day after it had eaten a hearty breakfast I left it sunning itself on the edge of a garden pot, but when I looked out later it was dead beside the pot - I felt as though I had lost a little friend. It was especially upsetting because it had been doing so well, but at least we tried.

Lovely

What a lovely story behind the painting, Fiona...I love your little anecdotes...they do indeed show what a kind and compassionate nature you have, and your love of wildlife.

Great story and an excellent pastel, Fiona.

Many thanks Donna, Andre, Linda, Satu, Val and Henry for your interest and comments. After they fledged they stayed mainly in and around the garden coming back occasionally for food but after a time they became self sufficient and their visits became less and less. I lived in a very small hamlet and knew the few people that lived around me and they all had visits. Because they had no fear of humans they would just settle on people and demand to be fed. They would come to me when I shouted 'come on boys' but eventually I suppose they joined a larger flock and went south for the winter.

Funny how we remember our experiences with wildlife, they stick with us. I know what it feels like Jenny when they don't make it, it's very disappointing and such a waste, especially when it looks as though they will pull through. I had a baby Wagtail and Swallow last year that were fine for a week or so then just died. You feel helpless....but at least you give it your best and try.Malcolm, Jenny thanks very much. Thanks Dennis, Chandra and Gudrun for your kind comments.

This is just fabulous, Fiona - I love the animated expressions on those babies! Great composition, lovely palette and I just love the story behind it!

Thank you very Seok, glad you enjoyed the jottings.....I have more...lol