About 11 AM this morning I was driving South on Rt 2 from Edgewater to Harwood.  In that area, on the West side of Rt. 2, I saw a very large flock of COMMON GRACKLES feeding in several fields, particularly in a field of cut cornstalks.  I pulled over and watched for awhile.  The birds were feeding on corn kernels in the field. I doubt there could be much left in that field, judging by the many, many beaks stuffed with the yellow grain. 



The flock held at least 2,000 birds - probably a very gross underestimate (I tend to be conservative).  In my little corner of the flock, I found about a dozen RED WING BLACKBIRDS, including a few females, 100 BROWN HEADED COWBIRDS, both male and females  and about three BRONZE COMMON GRACKLES.   At times I thought I saw a Rusty Blackbird, but could never get a clear enough view to confirm. 

As I was sitting in the driveway to the farm, I heard a fluttering and scratching on my car - apparently I became a perch, temporarily.  That actually was a bit creepy, to be surrounded by a sea of black birds and hear them scratch on the car.  (reminds me of an old movie...)

The birds otherwise ignored me entirely - until I rolled down the driver's side window.  They immediately flushed and left a large, nearly empty circle of bare field on that side of the car.  When I rolled the window back up, the field became filled almost instantaneously.  I guess maybe they thought I was a bit creepy, too.  

Joanne

Joanne Howl, DVM

West River, MD