European starlings are widespread across North America. They eat a wide variety of foods and are willing to use a wide variety of places to nest and roost. This flexible nature helps them thrive in cities and suburbs as well as on farms. They are one of only a few birds who live in otherwise barren industrial urban wastelands. Their impact on vineyards, particularly in places like California’s wine country, leads to significant grape consumption and economic losses. Strategies such as bird netting are used to minimize damage.

If you've read my review of The Ten Thousand Doors of January, you already know that Harrow and I didn't get off to the best of starts. Meet the latest heir of the house: young Arthur, leading a secluded life, perceived as callous, indifferent to the deaths of his own parents. Enter Opal, a 26-year-old orphan, working odd jobs and resorting to theft to pay her brother Jasper's art academy tuition. Drawn to the haunted house as if it were a living entity, Opal dreams of it calling her. Determined to break through Arthur's barriers, she applies for a job as a cleaner, unaware that this house holds the key to the secrets of her own life. As she unravels the sinister truths hidden within, she discovers Arthur is not just the heir but the guardian trapped in the house. Their connection may unleash something dangerous, not only endangering the lives of the townsfolk but transporting them to a place they never intended to face. Histoplasmosis fungus is common to soils in the eastern and central United States. As many as 80 % of people tested in these areas prove to have already been exposed without knowing. It is important to note that the birds (and bats) associated with this disease don’t carry or spread it; they simply provide the rich nutrients that can allow it to grow and proliferate. Many factors will go into whether or not conditions are right for this as well as how people might become exposed. Certainly soil disturbance plays an important role in risk of exposure. Starlings were introduced to North America in the late 19th century by a group led by Eugene Schieffelin, who wanted to bring all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare’s works to the continent. It’s best to keep starlings out before they start to build their nest. Ask yourself, “Have they nested in a vent before?” “Is there a cavity on the house they might like?” Seal any openings before they appear and start building. If you discover them building before eggs are laid, remove the nest and appropriately cover the opening they were using. Sealing openingsThe experience was a profound reminder of their symbolic meanings – communication, community, and adaptability – which continue to guide my personal journey. Have you ever wondered about the deeper meaning behind the mesmerizing flight of a starling? Starling symbolism, rich in cultural and spiritual significance, is a fascinating exploration of communication, intuition, and change. Starling House will no doubt take its place alongside fiction's most memorable haunted houses." ― Publishers Weekly (starred review)

These birds aren’t just captivating to watch; they carry profound messages that resonate across cultures and time. Intrigued? It’s four miles from Tractor Supply to the motel—three and a half if I cut behind the public library and cross the river on the old railroad bridge, which always puts me in a strange, sour mood. Harrow's lyrical prose propels this contemporary Southern gothic, offering an atmospheric fairy tale with delightfully jagged-edged characters." –EW.com Starlings are migratory birds, symbolizing change and transition. Their annual journeys remind us that change is a natural part of life, encouraging us to embrace new experiences with an open mind. Starling House will no doubt take its place alongside fiction’s most memorable haunted houses.” — Publishers Weekly, starred reviewA breathtaking book-brilliant and raw and dark and complicated. It's also, to be blunt, uncannily relevant." — Sarah Gailey, author of Magic for Liars, on The Once and Future Witches Despite their strong community ties, starlings are also symbols of freedom and individuality. Their breathtaking flight patterns represent the joy of freedom and the expression of unique individual traits within a group. As sinister forces converge on Starling House, Opal and Arthur are going to have to make a dire choice: to dig up the buried secrets of the past and confront their own fears, or let Eden be taken over by literal nightmares. Looking at them felt like stepping into someone else’s skull, someone who knew the same things I knew: that there were sharp teeth behind every smile, and bare bones waiting beneath the pretty skin of the world.”

For Harrow, writing "Starling House" meant unraveling the evasive ways in which Americans tell stories about the South, even within their own families. Open overfilled dumpsters and household trash in plastic bags offer easy urban meals. Take them off starlings’ menu by securing trash.

All Animals magazine

Tough as nails girl left to take care of a sibling, mother wasn't good with men, mother dies, father out of picture, has to take random job, owner of house is loner, owner of house is out of touch with "poor" people, owner slowly starts to be nice..blah blah.. They fall in love...blah" In a Nutshell: A Gothic Fantasy with minor shades of horror. Contains beautiful prose and interesting characters, but not much plot depth. The pacing was somewhat off.