Feathery Autumn Dance
When the Grapes Are Gone: The Starling, Mockingbird, & Dogwood Ballet
Every year, just after the final grape clusters are snipped from the vines and the vineyard begins to settle into autumn’s quiet hush, something extraordinary takes place. It’s not another harvest or a late-blooming flower. It’s an aerial ballet—a noisy, energetic, and oddly humorous performance starring hundreds of starlings, a few fiercely territorial mockingbirds, and a row of dogwood trees lining our vineyard fence.
The Arrival of the Starlings
Without warning, the sky darkens with movement. Starlings—dozens, sometimes hundreds—arrive like a gust of wind. They swoop in unison over the vineyard rows, swirling and diving with a kind of electric energy. Their flight, known as a “murmuration” pulses through the air like a heartbeat.
With a rush of wings, the flock plunges into the dogwoods. Branches tremble as the birds flutter through, their sharp eyes scanning for the ruby-red dogwood berries. In a blur of motion and cheerful chaos, the starlings feast, chattering and chirping while the trees quiver under the weight of their visit.
The Mockingbird Counterattack
But the dogwoods are not unguarded. Beneath the branches, hidden like sentries, a few mockingbirds stand watch. These tiny but mighty residents have lived here longer than we have, and they don’t take kindly to intruders—especially not greedy starlings.
With a sharp cry, the mockingbirds launch into the fray. Dive-bombing with precision, they flap, scold, and chase. The starlings scatter, only to regroup and aim for the next tree down the line.
The cycle repeats again and again. It’s a hilarious and oddly heartwarming drama of nature—mockingbirds defending their turf while starlings in the vineyard try again and again to snatch a few more berries before being chased away once more.
The Vineyard Clean-Up Crew
Down in the vineyard rows, a quieter scene plays out. Some starlings descend from their dogwood raids and begin pecking at the ground. They search for fallen seeds, stray grapes, and insects—a sort of natural cleanup crew. The mockingbirds, apparently satisfied with their aerial victories, leave them alone in this part of the vineyard.
The birds repeat their performance for a few days. Then, just as suddenly as it began, it ends.
Nature’s Curtain Call
We look forward to this show every year. It’s our signal that the growing season is truly over, and that life in the vineyard, while quieter, is still vibrant and joyful.
This Fall, as we watched Starlings dart between our vines and the dogwoods, we asked a new question:
How do we convince Starlings to eat Spotted Lanternflies?
© 2025 Terry Housel. All rights reserved.
