16/12/2017
This snowy and cold, beautiful morning I went on the Christmas bird count at John Heinz NWR. About 3 hours in, we were suddenly surrounded by a murmuration of 2,000 starlings landing in the trees all around us. The sound of their whistling and chattering was deafening. Then in an instant they all went completely silent and flew away. We never spotted what spooked them, but slowly the quiet woods returned to normal. First with a Carolina Wren calling,"I'm still here!" and it's friend, "And I'm over hear too."
Whenever I have an unexpected meeting in the forest, I like to google the totem of my visitor to see what message was being conveyed. This one is a timely message for us all:
The Starling Totem
Starling: Group Behavior
Starling teaches how to behave within a group setting - how to be effective and assertive without becoming a bully. Communication is important to Starling people; however, you must be careful what you say, for people may take it incorrectly or blow it out of proportion. Watch your own sensitivity to other's words. You might be reading more into it that is truly there. By learning Starling's behaviors, you can live peacefully within your community of friends and family.
Starling teaches lessons of group etiquette, social standing an family relations and how you appear to the world in those relationships. He will show the nuances of the art of communication and vocalization which needs to be clear and expressive. It's time to speak your voice. Starling can show how to be a fierce competitor to achieve goals along with using all the resources available to do such. Are you balancing your feminine/masculine qualities? It is time to accomplish tasks early and not wait until the last minute. Are you clinging to an idea, perception, people too tightly? Starling will teach much about sensitivity to others and working as a unity either in this world or another and will instill a sense of protection and hope.