I'm almost sure what sparked my initial interest in birding. It all began in the early 1980s during one of the coldest winters I can remember. I was in my grandmother's kitchen in Ballybunion, County Kerry, watching the snow blanket the ground outside. The freezing weather had left the birds hungry and in need of help. My grandmother, feeling sorry for the Starlings gathered by the window, tossed bacon rinds onto the snowy garden.
What happened next captivated me. A massive flock of Starlings descended, filling the air with their chirps and squabbles. But it was their beautiful plumage that truly caught my eye – their feathers shimmering in the bright, clear light of the snow. The dark iridescent sheen of their feathers, tinged with flashes of purple and green,…
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Bird Watching (Digital) - 1 Issue, January 2025