Stares

The word Starling means little Stare, a young Stare, a juvenile Stare. Stare is what adult Starlings were always called until everyone seems to have decided that adults could inherit their baby name.

They’re here on Westray in great numbers, despite being in decline elsewhere. This spot full of Rosa rugosa is an ideal Starling creche for the youngsters to hide while the parents find food.

Starling is a cute name, but I’m concerned that everyone could start calling Puffins pufflings instead, and that would be too much, really. Let’s stay with their adult name, for once, shall we?