Today is Earth Day, 2008. Or as I like to call it, My Personal Day of Irony.
In honor of Earth Day, I killed a starling. Okay, I didn’t exactly kill it. More like an abortion. It was completely unintentional! I swear! On the one hand, I probably shouldn’t feel guilty. It was a starling, after all. An invader. A usurper of native birds’ cavity nests and killer of good birds’ eggs! Right?
Here’s what happened: I noticed that one of the vent covers had fallen out of its space in the eave under the roof over the laundry room. Didn’t think much of it until yesterday afternoon, I notice a pair of starlings hanging around that area and flying back and forth, and then one of them flew up and then out of the hole. I asked MJ to move the ladder closer to that spot so I could replace the vent cover, because, after all, as a Certified Wildlife Habitat person, I was not going to host a brood of starlings, for G-d’s sake, and perpetuate the bad. Right?
MJ moved the ladder for me and about 20 minutes after that, I took the vent cover, slathered it with Liquid Nails so it wouldn’t fall out again, and went up the ladder. Unfortunately, where MJ placed the ladder, I couldn’t really see the space in detail, I could just barely reach to slip the vent cover in place. About 10 minutes after that, MJ asked me if I replaced the cover, and when I said that I had, he said, “I think you might be too late anyway. I think there was an egg in there.” You saw an egg? “Well, I saw something oval and white and tried to remove it, but it felt kind of slimy and I thought I might just make a real mess, so I left it alone.” You’re telling me this, NOW? So, now the damn “mommy” starling is still hanging around, flying up to the top of the window shutters, onto the ladder, back onto the cable wire, “singing”, and making me feel all around like a real shit.
I know it’s a damn starling, but I am seriously tempted to go up there and remove the vent cover next to the one I replaced yesterday, and give mom a chance. I dunno. I’m torn.
I certified my yard as a Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation about a year ago. I haven’t put up my sign yet — I’m still kind of waiting for the front to look a bit more habitat-like, but it’s coming!
So in order to assuage my guilt, I’m urging you to Create a Certified Wildlife Habitat
Certify Your Habitat! Join the thousands of wildlife enthusiasts across the country who have been recognized for creating havens for neighborhood wildlife in their very own yards. These individuals have provided the essential elements for healthy and sustainable wildlife habitats and have earned the distinction of being part of National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat™ program. You don’t even have to have a yard — your apartment balcony can be a habitat, too!
After all, the Earth – she has been very very good to you!
