Hi Patty and all,

I read Patty's post earlier and then checked out the redwing blackbird group
in the backyard.  There on the outer edge of the group was one rusty
blackbird.  I quickly grabbed my camera and took some pictures.  The large
group of birds would fly up to the maple tree only to return to the ground a
couple minutes later.  The rusty would not fly off....I swear it was eating
like it hadn't had food in several days.  A stray cat even came in the yard
and the rusty did not even notice it.  I will report this bird also.

I had a cooper's hawk this morning looking for breakfast.  He didn't get the
common grackle he was after and left soon after. I also watched the funniest
thing today.  I had a whole cooked chicken that went bad so I pulled it
apart and took it out near the burn barrel thinking the crows might eat it
or a stray cat.  Next thing I know there were about 30 common grackles out
there flipping the pieces of chicken around and then tearing pieces off and
eating them.  I did not know they would eat cooked meat.  Also had 2 fox
sparrows, 2 song sparrows, 1 towhee, 1 brown thrasher, 3 red belly
wooodpeckers and many other regulars.  What a wonderful at home birding day.
Total species 28.
 
Happy Birding,
Patricia Viola Rose
Callaway, St Mary's county, Maryland




-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of patty craig
Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 8:42 AM
To: 
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Rusty Blackbirds

Hi All,

Sunday I had 3 Rusty Blackbirds at my feeder when the hordes of Redwings 
and grackles invaded.  There was one male and two females.  They also 
showed up with the snow storm in December, but they were alone then.  I 
can't seem to find the information on the Rusty Blackbird survey, so I 
don't know if this is the kind of information wanted.  Could someone 
post that information again?

Thanks,
Patty Craig
Dameron, St. Mary's County, MD