starling tales

Been watching a family of starlings, whose chicks hatched this spring under the roof of a sunptuous villa across the road. The 7 of them are still together, happily chirping in the morning as they emerge, then soaring on the thermals as they explore the meighbourhood. So far they've managed to avoid the many hunting cats that terrorize the streets. But how long till they follow their instinct and travel south like the swifts and the buzzards?