Starlings

Summary

The text reflects on the unique behavior of a solitary starling that remains behind when the rest of its flock takes flight, drawing parallels to individualism and non-conformity in human society.

Abstract

The article "Starlings" delves into the enigmatic behavior of a single starling that does not follow the collective departure of its flock. It ponders the possible reasons for this non-conformity, suggesting scenarios ranging from the bird being a mastermind leader, an absent-minded individual, a social outcast, a stubborn personality, or part of an unnoticed flock tradition. The author uses this avian behavior as a metaphor for human individualism, questioning how often people choose to diverge from societal norms in significant aspects of life, such as philosophical beliefs, religious faith, or life choices. The text encourages reflection on the prevalence of unique perspectives and deeper values amidst the conformity of the consumer world, suggesting that the ratio of non-conformists among humans might be comparable to that of the solitary starling.

Opinions

The author presents the idea that the lone starling could be the actual leader of the flock, cleverly directing the others.
There is a suggestion that the starling might simply be forgetful or distracted, missing the group's departure.
The text speculates that the bird could be an outcast or a criminal within its community, serving a form of avian punishment.
Stubbornness is proposed as another possible explanation for the starling's decision to stay put.
The author muses on the idea that perhaps it is a tradition for starlings to leave one behind, and this individual's turn has come.
The article draws a parallel between the solitary starling and human non-conformists, implying that a similar ratio of individuals choose to live by different priorities and deeper views in a consumer-driven society.
The author seems to admire the independence of both the starling and the human non-conformists, hinting at a sense of pride in those who live by their own principles.

Non-Follower

What about that one starling who does not take off with the rest of them

One curious thing about starlings (or any other birds that seem to function and live — and fly — more as a group than as individuals) is the single starling that doesn’t take off with the rest.

A tree filled with what seems to be one starling mind with a thousand bodies suddenly, in a winged flutter and flash, says goodbye to nine-hundred ninety-nine of them, leaving this one single bird — apparently unaffected and undisturbed by the sudden migration of the remainder — behind.

What goes on inside that little starling head?

It really could run the gamut, couldn’t it? He could indeed be the master-mind (home of the flock’s actual mind), directing the chattering to do his bidding: he’s the conductor who intends “left”, “loop”, “right”, “invert”, “spread”, “soar”, “turn”, “revolve”, et cetera.

Or, he could be the absentminded starling who didn’t get the memo, or did in fact get it but didn’t read it, thinking instead of something or other much un-memo like. Now looking around: where did everybody go?

Or, he could be a social outcast, or a starling criminal serving some sort of sentence.

Or, perhaps he’s just a very stubborn starling: I am not going.

Or, perhaps they always leave one bird behind — something no one has ever noticed before — and this just happened to be his/her turn.

One in a thousand. I wonder what the corresponding ratio is among us humans. How many in a thousand simply don’t flutter and flash when the rest do? Especially in matters that matter — so I’m not talking colors of shoes here, or television programs: I think of philosophical stance, religious leaning, how best to live a life. So, so many of us get up in the morning, put in a good (or bad) day’s work, return to family (or loneliness) or to homework or to more shopping or to worrying about tomorrow (not to mention the longer-term future); how many of us live by a different priority, a deeper view, a spiritual orientation in this consumer world of ours?

I think the starling-ratio would make our species proud.

Starlings

Non-Follower

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