The Urban Pantheist

Since I've made myself into a guy people ask about urban nature, I've noticed a bunch of recurring characters in the questions people ask. I thought it might be interesting or useful to make a list of the creatures that most often inspire a "what the hell is that?" reaction. These animals have a special value as gateways to an interest in nature for city people. When someone is startled by something that seems unusual or exotic, it's a great way to start to appreciate life for its own sake.

#8: European starling Sturnus vulgaris

Most urban people never even notice this most common of city birds. Smaller than pigeons, without that bird's habit of lingering in parks for handouts, starlings are below the notice of laypeople. This changes when they find a young starling, separated from its parents, seemingly helpless. The nestling is the same size an adult (a fact common to songbirds that is a source of much bafflement to those new to the study of nature) but less shy of humans. Sometimes the bird is stunned by having struck a window or otherwise reluctant to fly. The would-be good Samaritan scoops the bird into a box and goes online looking for advice on how to care for their little patient. They are then amazed to discover that they have rescued a bird that is hated by bird lovers. This paradox can only disentangled by learning the history of starling introduction, and the subsequent disastrous effects on native birds. Not the most pleasant way to begin learning about urban nature, but it may be the first awakening that there are many stories of the animals in the city, and they may be interested to learn what animals are introduced, what are native, and the many ways humans have changed the path of nature.

( the countdown continues )