US Air Force Engage Cicada Forces
Leeslyvania, SP, Prince William Co, VA 8/27/02
This reporter was witness to an amazing battle as the US Air Force, led by
several Wings of the 15th Central Air Detachment of Common Grackles,
successfully engaged a significant element of Cicada insurgents in the
relatively unpopulated area of Leeslyvania SP. These Wings of "Grackles",
some recently filled with fresh recruits, aggressively met the enemy and
appeared to carry the day given the significant decrease in Cicada "buzz
chants" during and after the engagement - a sound that is apparently used by
the opposing forces to bolster its mettle. The lack of the maneuverability
of the Grackles did not deter US fighters as squadron after squadron
attempted to follow the opposing forces, even as many of the latter employed
the highly effective "Cicada Shimmy-Shammy" flight style. Grackle wings were
forced to battle over and between forested boundaries, sometimes plunging
headlong into woodland obstacles. Secondhand reports suggested that many
squadrons suffered injury in these wooded skirmishes, but the spokesperson
for the 15th CAD said that Commander LTGEN M. Quiscalus vehemently denied
that damages occurred.
The success of today's engagement appears to be due to the addition of two
elements that up to recently had not been used to actively engage the enemy -
highly agile "Gnatcatcher" fighters and high-speed interceptor "Bluebirds"
were noted by several observers as participating in the battle. The
Gnatcatchers, staffed by the highly regarded "Blue-gray" pilots, would
plunge, sometimes with reckless abandon, into thickets in an attempt to roust
the Cicadas who appear to have employed stealth technology to hide in this
environment. In an apparent alternative strategy, Bluebirds could be seen
plunging headlong from prominent positions (perches) with near supersonic
speed catching the Cicadas unaware before the Shimmy-Shammy defense could be
activated. The effectiveness of this strategy could not be ignored and was
emphasized by the 15th CAD spokesperson who quoted LTGEN Quiscalus, "The
Blue-gray and Bluebird activities effectively ended the defensive strategy of
the Cicada menace and allowed our Grackle wings to dominate the skies."
Informed sources reported that during the battle certain "three-letter
agencies" had emplaced both Swift and Swallow sensor umbrellas over the
engagement zone to obtain real-time battlefield data. At times both types of
these units moved within meters of the ground, apparently to obtain important
data on Cicada tactics. Also, a stealthy "Black-billed Cuckoo" unit was
noted by one observer, although no sources would confirm the presence of such
a highly-technological "bird".
It should be noted that mobs of the essentially foreign European Starling and
BH Cowbird were found throughout the field of battle during the engagement.
Although the professed non-belligerent status of these elements has been
publicly announced, some observers reported that both units would
occasionally challenge - and overcome - individual Cicada fighters. Also
present were the usually colorful "warblers", in typical numbers, led by the
Northern Parula faction, which stood by, usually impassively, to the drama as
it unfolded.
Forces and their estimated strengths follow:
Osprey 3 (on stand-by away from the field of engagement)
Black-billed Cuckoo 1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Chimney Swift 60
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 6
E. Wood Pewee 8
E. Phoebe 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 5
E. Kingbird 1
White-eyed Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 8
No. Rough-winged Swallow 12
Barn Swallow 20
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 20 (a nice showing)
E. Bluebird 20 (many recruits noted)
Gray Catbird 3
Brown Thrasher 1
E. Starling 25
Blue-winged Warbler 1
No. Parula 7
Yellow Warbler 4
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2
Yellow-throated Warbler 2
Am Redstart 2
Prothonotary Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Canada Warbler 1
Summer Tanager 1
Scarlet Tanager 2
Chipping Sparrow 5
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 4
Common Grackle 500
Brown-headed Cowbird 40
Baltimore Oriole 6
Kurt Gaskill
You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx. To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
