Regally, a starling sat perched on the balcony above me out by the garage. We saw each other simultaneously and it flew down, hopping about on the concrete with some food in its beak, I couldn't tell what. Every so often it cocked its head and considered me, blinking once or twice in that quizzical way birds do. It hopped beneath some steps to eat, so I knelt down to see what it was eating. Indignantly it scampered out and flew back up to the balcony. Respecting its privacy, I stubbed out my cigarette and left it to its lunch.