That is, in effect, the story of the Radford starlings. The people didn't
give up at once, however. They mulled and fussed, giving the starlings a brief
reprieve, and then came up with a new plan. Soon, one day when the birds returned at
sunset to their roost, the wildlife managers were ready for them. They fired
shotguns loaded with multiple, highpowered explosives into the air. BANG, went the
guns; the birds settled down to sleep . . . . At last they brought out the ultimate
weapon: recordings of starling distress calls. Failure. YIKE OUCH HELP
went the recordings; snore went the birds. That, in toto, is the story of
the Radford starlings. They still thrive.
Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker
Creek
