FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Re: Grackle roost and questions

[canyon.eagle@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Hello Fred and all VAbirders,

>Soon the grackles started diving into two bamboo patches along
>Oakton Rd. There must have been 10-11,000 of them. It was quite a sight 
>and quite a fun commotion to listen to.  It is amazing that so
>many birds could disappear so easily into the thick greenery. The 
>neighbors who own one of the bamboo patches say that the large flock of
>grackles has been in there each evening for about one to two weeks and 
>that they return every year.
>So now I am curious.  How long do they stay? How
>do the numbers vary from day to day? What other
>roosts are in the area? How many birds are in
>these roosts? Are they all in bamboo patches?

I would like to know about the bamboo as well.  If so, perhaps the patches 
of invasive bamboo would account for what seem to be increasing numbers of 
Grackles near here.  I removed bamboo that had invaded our yard from the 
woods (it wasn't easy and requires constant vigilance), but there is still 
a large section of the woods overrun with it several yards up from 
ours.  I'll have to pay more attention as to whether or not Grackles are 
roosting in it.

Speaking of Grackles, usually this is the time of year that the Grackles 
arrive in our yard en masse.  This year has been different.  This year, 
they NEVER LEFT!  They have been here all winter...sigh. And how they can 
eat! It's been tricky trying to discourage their hogging the feeders.

Other birds in yard of late:

###More Pileated Woodpeckers!  We had a "4 Pileated day" several times in 
the last couple weeks when the "other" pair of Pileateds showed up.  My 
theory is that they have a neighboring territory that at certain times of 
the year overlaps with "our" Pileateds' territory.  BTW, our Pileateds have 
been showing signs of spring, getting a little "frisky" now and then with 
each other.  Oboy, nesting season is getting closer!

###Red-shouldered Hawk.  A nice surprise, since we haven't had any in our 
woods in about 4 years.

###"Our" Crows are trying to find a good nesting spot.  They've moved 3 
times so far.  Something must be making them nervous.

###Eastern Phoebe.  Another nice surprise, since we haven't had one in the 
yard for several years.


Lori Markoff
Vienna
Fairfax County
canyon.eagle@xxxxxxxxxxx




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