2023-09-19 20:00:36
Threatening clouds above a vast landscape, we often regard that as typically Dutch. Well, cloudy skies are certainly just as Dutch outside of Holland, even in Friesland! There, photographer Erik Hijweege traveled through the country for a winter to capture whimsical clouds. He limited himself to the most capricious of all cloud formations: starling clouds.
Hijweege exhibits these photos in the charming Nature Museum in Leeuwarden, together with the starling paraphernalia from the museum’s cabinet of curiosities. The exhibition will open on Friday followingnoon, September 29 at 4:00 PM. You are welcome as a reader of my Nature Diary!
I’m giving a talk there with pictures regarding those wonderful starlings. The photographer knew my book The starling and asked if I would like the text in his photo album Starling dance (€ 29.95) wanted to write. I take every opportunity to talk regarding those happiest birds in the world, and I happily did so.
The starling only speaks English
At this time of year, starlings often inspect their intended nest cavity: is it still dry, is it still free or is there a woodpecker lurking there, does it need to clean up any manure remains, can maggots be picked up or is there a risk of blood-sucking bird lice? too big? If the findings are satisfactory, the starlings are often humming. They imitate a buzzard or other bird and vibrate their wings as if it is breeding time.
Starlings have a sound repertoire that is just as versatile as parrots, including human language. On Friday I will show a video of a talking starling. Although the starling in question only speaks English, I am happy to provide the translation on the spot.
Although the number of starlings has declined by an estimated 80 percent in forty years, due to the disappearance of burrows and especially insects, they cannot be discouraged. Even in autumnal wind and rain, you can hear them humming.
Three times a week, biologist Koos Dijksterhuis writes regarding something that grows or blooms. Read his previous Nature Diaries here.
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