Not long ago, I watched this lovely European starling standing in the grass, the sunlight reflecting off his iridescent feathers.
I’ve read that starlings were brought to America from Europe in the 1890’s. It was a literary group who transported 60 starlings across the ocean, their goal to introduce all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays. Misguided perhaps, but interesting…
As I studied the bird, I had a realization. I was looking at a descendant of one of those birds released long ago.
And in that moment, my understanding of ancestry deepened as I realized that ancestors include all who came before me…be it animal, plant, tree, or human.
The feeling of connection across species and across time was startling, and it sent chills through me.
And as I watched the beautiful starling take flight, I smiled, knowing in my heart that my concept of family will never be quite the same…
(Additional photos: wandernature.com/new-photos)