Antics on Display
With so many species of birds and thousands of photos, it has been a challenge to choose those I wanted to share during our bird bonanza. Wanting to end on a fun note, today’s featured bird is the Boat-Tailed grackle. Their antics are delightful to watch and, even at times, humorous. It’s as though they know you are taking photos and seek to put on quite a show for your benefit!
You will often find them in pairs as they are very social birds. As you will note in the images above, they appear to pose in sync, affording some great photo opportunities. Let’s learn more about them.
Did You Know:
- When you smell saltwater on the East Coast, it’s time to look out for Boat-tailed Grackles. The glossy blue-black males are hard to miss as they haul their ridiculously long tails around or display from marsh grasses or telephone wires. The rich, dark-brown females are half the size of males and look almost like a different species. Boat-tailed Grackles take advantage of human activity along our increasingly developed coast, scavenging trash and hanging out in busy urban areas away from predators.
- To see Boat-tailed Grackles, head to the southeastern or Gulf Coast and look for long-tailed black birds around marsh edges, boat launches, and parks. They often walk around boldly on long legs with their tails cocked up, searching for food. It is also common to see Boat-tailed Grackles perched on roadside utility wires. If you still can’t find one, head to a fast food restaurant in a beach town and scout around for discarded French fries—you’re almost sure to find grackles there.
- Fledglings that fall into the water can swim well for short distances, using their wings as paddles.
- The oldest Boat-tailed Grackle on record was a female, and at least 13 year, 1 months, when she was recaught and released by a South Carolina bird bander in 2003.
Only the Beginning
As I conclude this series (Part One), examining each one more closely and providing a more profound insight has been a joy.
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