Robin McInnes wrote:
We planted out a load of Zinnia Profusion (from T&M) on Saturday; by
this morning there was only one still left in. All the others had been
up-rooted by a starling that is nesting in one of our eave corners.

The bird isn't eating the plants, just uprooting them and leaving them
lying -roots exposed- on the border.

We also planted out various other bedding types, such as begonias, busy
lizzies etc, but the bird only seems interested in vandalising the zinnias.

Most of the zinnias are now ruined and I suppose we'll just have to get
something else to replace them; there's really no other solution.

Perhaps I should be posting this query on a bird group, but I was
wondering whether starlings are known for uprooting zinnias, what is
their motive for doing so, and why should they single that particular
plant out for attention?

(And, if they are well known for such activity, can anyone tell me if
there are any other types of plant they vandalise, so I can avoid them
when choosing the replacements please?)

Cheers,
Robin McInnes
Cheshire, UK

What I have noticed in my garden is that blackbirds and starlings lift
clumps of the grass clippings I use to mulch my flowerbeds, I presume
to get at some juicy worm underneath. They are also the first two
birds to come to any patch in the veg garden which has been freshly dug
or turned, again apparently for the same reason.
Could it simply be that your zinnias were more easily lifted than
anything else?

Cat(h)