Titanarum

The starlings have gathered in the leafless tree at the back of our block. I hate them. Noisy, greedy gangs of flying pests. But they are a protected species so I must curb my instincts to poison the lot of them. It took me months to get the hole under the eaves blocked last year. Had I not seen to that they would have been in by now, building nests and extensions and what not. Been wondering about offspring in general. What are they for? Is there a way to signal that the house is full? Are we humans going to start slowing down our breeding? And if yes, when? And can we set targets for each species based upon an idealised ecological system? 500000000000000000000000000000000 gazillions ants and 100.000 polar bears, say? And can we decide that some species, on reflection, need not be? I’m thinking of slugs here. But such thoughts could take us down the slippery slope of cruel arrogance. A return to eugenics at worst, or Maoesque population control at second worst. But I’m gonna risk it. If slugs were no more I wouldn’t grieve. As for starlings I’ll just be a NUME (not under my eaves).