Birders: 4/26 at 11:15am @ 180th St. Marsh I observed and heard vocalizations from 1 male Great-tailed Grackle. It was 5-10 feet from my SUV!!! Windows were open and I was in awe hearing the most bizarre sounds I have ever heard come from a bird. Clucks, descending whistles and that weird sucking/flushing sound had me stunned. I watched the bird amble its way across the road and pick around the marsh/road edge for a good half hour. It was last seen on the far eastern edge of the marsh grabbing corn from the field on the south side of the road.
Also of interest: Flock of about 30 Yellow-headed blackbirds, Mature Bald eagle who stole the prey of a successful Male Northern Harrier. Ruddy ducks, Canvasbacks and a Swamp sparrow rounded out the other highlights for me@ 180th. Jim in St. Paul 'If all the animals were gone, we would die from loneliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the animals soon happens to us. We are part of the earth, and it is a part of us. This we know: all things are connected like the blood which unites one family. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.' Chief Seattle, 1854 _________________________________________________________________ Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail
