[va-bird] Re: Grackle roost and questions
- From: canyon.eagle@xxxxxxxxxxx
- To: <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2002 20:06:53 -0500
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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