In mid summer, my early morning walks to work are less interesting than during other seasons of the year. Even before sunrise, the steamy heat has suppressed the local wildlife; birdsong is nearly absent, except for the eternal optimism of chickadees and Carolina wrens, and cottontails lounge in the clover, content to risk my close approach.
But this morning, as I walked along Greek Row, a noisy crowd of starlings and house sparrows had gathered up ahead, squabbling over something in the road. After reaching the scene, I discovered several pieces of pizza scattered across the pavement, no doubt flung from a car overnight. Despite the heat and humidity, these avian opportunists welcomed the bonanza and each aggressively pursued its share.
While most birders despise alien species such as starlings and house sparrows, I tend to admire their survival skills. Omniverous and tenacious, these birds have found nirvana in America, where we throw out more food than most countries consume.
