Letter to the Editor

Starlings are health hazard, need to be killed

To the editor:

The starling population has increased over the years until the birds have become a threat to human health. If you have ever seen where they have roosted at night, you understand why they can no longer be left unchecked. I have seen the sky black with starlings in flight.

Towns are a good source of food for starlings and provide cover for sleeping among the many shade trees. They also have no-shooting ordinances inside the city limits on their side.

Starlings should have been destroyed years ago before there were so many. I say thank you to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for working to get rid of them. I hope the USDA will continue to follow up until starlings are no longer a health threat. I will gladly dispose of any starlings that fall on my property. I remember when starlings covered the yard to the point I was unable to put out bird feed for the redbirds, finches, blue jays and many other winter birds that bless our countryside.

I have read some negative comments on this matter and am writing to let it be known that I and many others want this program to continue until all the starlings are destroyed.

JUEL D. MAYFIELD

Jackson