Grackles On Patrol

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#featheredfriends is hosted by @melinda010100 and today I want to share some thoughts and photos of the two Grackles that control the yard around the house.


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This grackle has found an insect or bug to devour.


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Grackles are often described as blackbirds that have been stretched.

When grackles are in a group, they are referred to as a "plague. They migrate in flocks but I only have the two staying here and they are on continual patrol of the yard since returning from the south.

Adult common grackles have a long and dark bill, pale yellow eyes, and a long tail. Adults often have an iridescent appearance on their head, especially males. Common grackles are found in much of North America east of the Rocky Mountains.
-Wikipedia source

Grackles get a bad rap from being aggressive. They will even bomb-dive humans if they come near their nest when they have babies.I don’t really mind them and I’ll glad they patrol the yard all day, eating bugs and ants.


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My two grackles migrate south in late fall and come back in early spring to their nest in the cedar evergreen tree. I know they had two babies as I saw four grackles for about a week and now only the two are here.

While here they try to drive every other bird or critter away. They even harass the big raven and bomb dive him. he doesn’t fight back and stays around until he gets some of the food I put out in the morning.

Mr. Big Guy Raven treads carefully now as he walks up the yard to see if any food left.


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Now is that an evil eye on the grackle as he fills his beak.


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The blue jays have been around the yard for years and have tried unsuccessfully to drive the squirrel away. They give the grackles a wide berth.


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🦅🦅🦅



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Bang, I did it again... I just rehived your post!
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Hahaha! You need a bigger yard for all your critters to have their own space! 🤣

Great photos of the grackles I only ever see them in pairs, but would probably find them to be a plague if they showed up in a large group and took over!

Great post for Feathered Friends.
Happy shortest night!
!tip

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It’s funny how territorial the animals are, Melinda. I know what you mean about a flock of grackles. I wouldn’t want to have a whole flock hanging around.

One fall the house darkened as a flock flew by the house. I didn’t know what happened as they just kept coming and even stopped on the yard for awhile. Maybe they came by to gather these two to take with them. 😀

Thanks Melinda and Happy Summer.❤️

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It is astonishing when you see huge flocks gathered together. I haven't seen a big flock of grackles since I was a kid, but this year when I saw all those sandhill cranes gathered and flying over it was simply amazing.

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You have certainly got a yard full of entertainment there you don't need to visit any Zoo 😂

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Yes, I have my own little zoo right here in the back yard. It’s good entertainment especially during this pandemic.😄

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So lucky it will definitely be taking a lot of your boredom away especially chasing that Raccoon away enjoy have fun 😊

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Haha The skunk was visiting last evening. I didn’t think it would be wise to give chase to him.😀

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There's a lot going on since the Grackles have moved back to their nest, and you seem to have a lot of fun observing the birds and little critters playing or fighting around.

Nice story and photos about the Grackles, Jo, I don't think I have ever heard of these birds before, except from your post the other day. I like your Blue Jays, because they are really blue 😊

I hope you have a wonderful Sunday 😊

!tip
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The grackles keep the other birds and animals on their toes. I think they sleep with one eye open so they don’t miss anything.👁️ It’s been good entertainment during the pandemic.😀

I was mentioning to Melinda that one fall we didn’t know what was going on as it was a nice afternoon and suddenly the whole house darkened. A large flock of grackles flew over and the sky was black. They even stopped on the yard for awhile. It was like a scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s, The Birds. Maybe they were stopping by gathering up the two here to migrate South. I was glad to see that many move on.

Have a wonderful Sunday afternoon Johann.😊

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I believe you - so the other birds and animals couldn't lay around lazy and get fat because the grackles have always been chasing them 😉

That must have been a strange feeling when these masses of birds flew over your house. I have seen the movie many years ago and don't know the story anymore, but I remember some scenes with lots ob black birds. Maybe Alfred Hitchcock has been inspired by grackles 😀

We didn't see the sun today, but it was not a bad day. It's about midday on PEI, so I wish you a very nice Sunday afternoon Jo 🙂

Cheers and !BEER
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Hi Johann, It is a nice day here ( about 22C) and the sun is still shining at 4.15 P.M. I was outdoors for quite awhile and went into the forest to photograph the Lady Slipper flowers hiding there.

I remember in the terror film, the birds went crazy as if poisoned and attacked people, eventually the birds fell to their death.

This is what I found out about the birds used and grackles weren’t mentioned. They would have been perfect for the movie. They did use fake birds also.

“Through a meticulous positive reinforcement process, animal handler Ray Berwick trained hundreds of live birds for use in Hitchcock's movie. Most of these were wild-caught crows, ravens, seagulls, and sparrows.”

Have a good evening Johann. 😊

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Good morning Jo 🙂

The lady slipper flowers are called "Frauenschuh" in German what means the same as in English. They are beautiful flowers which I haven't seen for ages.

Yes, this is such a scene which I remember. I know you can train crows and ravens, but seagulls or sparrows? I thought it was all or at least most fake birds.

Have a good day Jo 🙂

Cheers and !BEER

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I was able to photograph nice shots of the Lady Slippers. Many are coming near the end of their cycle.

Such little beauties to hide in the forest.😀

It is a wonder how one could train a sparrow or seagull to do anything they didn’t want to do.🤔

I hope your day is going great Johann.😊

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I think they are safe in the forest where most people cannot find them ;)

Training a cat, dog or other mammal works, but I have no idea how to train any bird, apart from talking to a parrot ;)

It is very warm outside and I think I'll go for a walk now - the other comments can wait till later 😉

Have a wonderful afternoon Jo 🙂

Cheers and !BEER
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Oh my Jo! Lol..talk about "great minds"! I just photographed a Grackle about a week ago and just saw this..too funny! Great post and love the photos! I was going to say that they do have a villainous look with that wide eye but, oh no, I just got rid of the mean bluejay that hit me on the head and when I say got rid I mean he finally left the yard of his own free will..lol. It was the only time that i've seen a Grackle in the yard so hopefully it will be the last as well but I do like their pretty colors. 😁 💖

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It's funny how we post the same subjects sometimes. 😆 The grackles are a different breed with that devilish looking eye. LOL

My blue jays seem friendlier than yours but maybe that one had babies nearby and, now they have flown the nest, she has gone too. Here the blue jays nests are in the forest so I'm not near them.

I hope your Sunday is going well Dee. 💕

Happy Summer Solstice!

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What a nice yard full of interesting life to observe ! 🤗 👍 ❤️

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Lovely photos of the Grackles your were able to capture. And thank you for the information on them. I learned something new today. Your yard must be the favorite of the community.

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Thanks @justclickindiva. I hope you are doing well and enjoying the summer. I seem to attract all kinds of critters and I enjoy see them - last evening a skunk visited.

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