"Robin McInnes" wrote in message
...
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

P.S. Maybe Zinnia attract certain grubs? Lord knows. It would be interesting
to know. Or maybe, after all, they just don't like the look of them?