A nice big group of Gracks came over today,
and it looks like the females are starting to arrive as well. They are a bit more slender and less vibrant. Grackles can appear in many shades, depending on the light, but usually, the ones I see here are mostly blue and green. Today, a rare purple/ brownish one was there too.
The end of July is a bit
like early Halloween in the bird world - the molting process makes many of them look a bit scary. They are using the warm weather to lose old feathers and grow new ones. Some, like Grackles, Cardinals and Blue Jays, may lose their parts or the entire collection of feathers on their heads. It is a great opportunity to see what a bird’s ear looks like. And just like last year, there is a Grack that reminds me of Maynard James Keenan 😆
Earlier today,
I heard and saw the first Grackle baby. They have a very cute distinctive call (a bit like “naag-naag”) that is completely different from the cursed sounds of baby Starlings. This must have been an early one though, the Grackles are still carrying food away by the beaksful. They supplement with stuff from the feeder but feed the babies mainly with all kinds of juicy insects from the garden, of which you can see a bit of a selection here. The other two photos were just a weird pose that I found too funny not to share.
Grackles and rain
are a fantastic combo that makes a murky day worth the while. The textures and colors that the water causes make them look even more elegant and impressive than usual. For some reason, I am also very fond of them looking down. So here is a selection of “Downward Gracks”.
Video: Duelling Gracks!
Love is in the air, and the Grackles compete for the females by puffing up and stretching themselves. This was a fun scene to watch today, seeing two males showing off in front of a female. It lasted quite a bit and I only made minor edits. Sound on for full enjoyment!
It's been a busy couple of days
but I finally managed to sit down and go through photos. Early spring is also Grack season, and I am sure you all have missed more photos of them, so here we go. These are several individual birds, some of them are more purple, others more blue/ green. One of them is a big male that is missing part of the lower beak. I think the first one is a female, and I would love to hear some expert thoughts on my theory that the females don’t have the bright eyes that the males have - if you zoom in you can see her eye is different from the rest of them (it might be bs but I am curious). Happy Tuesday, I hope it’s gracking!
Common Grackles
are seemingly not everybody’s favorite due to their big appetite and sometimes overwhelming presence. I personally find them fascinating and love watching their interactions and behavior. And as with basically all animals, the young ones are particularly fun to watch. Some of the adults are still molting heavily while others are as shiny and gorgeous as in spring.
Nesting season has really begun,
and one way to tell that is birds coming to the feeders getting their beaks full or even bringing stuff while on the way. This is why we don’t use chemicals in our yard. The birds collect insects and feed them to their wee ones. I always find it interesting what they bring, it gives me insights into the secret bug life of my garden.
This weather
is great because it gives a variety of different lights and moods. This Grack came in a somewhat foggy morning with snow, but later on, the sun came out.
The season is changing
and things have slowed down a lot. As you might have seen, I have winterized the bird bath, and there is a lot less activity. So we are all settling in, socially distancing, keeping safe, sane and healthy, and I hope you do too. Here is a Grack to help you into the weekend. Please make sure you vote.
