At about 7:15 p.m. this evening there were huge flocks of blackbirds ( RwBs, C. Grackles, E. Starlings) converging on MNWR near the Visitor Center. My guess is that there were several hundred thousand birds swirling, swarming and streaking over and through the wetlands and trees for approximately forty-five minutes before all movement concluded as the birds descended into the rushes and nearby trees as the sun was setting. I felt privileged and very excited to be witnessing a magical spectacle. Occasionally a flock would dive low over my position making it possible to hear and feel the sound of the flock as it swooshed in an undulating or serpentine manner. Regrettably I did not have a video camera to record this amazing event. In addition there were 16 Caspian Terns that flew in a very loose flock over the Visitor Center parking lot on a southern tack. Bill RobertsAurora --
Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
