Not everyone’s favorite bird but I’m a fan.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Eight days ago this male Common Grackle was threatening another male, out of frame to the left, with their trademark Bill Up Display. This photo didn’t catch him with his bill pointing almost straight up, like it often was, but I like this photo better than the others I took of him. With him perched on matted phrags with a pond in the background the setting appeals to me, I got a nice exposure on his near-blacks in the early morning light, the unusual keel-shaped grackle tail is clearly evident, he’s sharp and I like the reflections on the water in the upper background.
In recent years there’s been a rapid increase in the population of Common Grackles with some negative consequences. They’ve become a significant agricultural pest and they’ve developed an unsavory reputation for raiding the nests of other birds and even killing the occasional adult bird. For those and other reasons, lots of folks don’t like grackles.
We never used to see grackles in Utah but within the last 50 years or so they’ve invaded the West, aided in part by the increased planting of shelterbelts which provided more suitable habitat for them. In the last few years they’ve reached the Salt Lake Valley, which is just about at the edge of their current western range.
Makes me wonder how far west they’ll eventually spread. Our extended drought might have something to say about that.
Ron
Hi Ron,
Around Galveston, shooting grackles means we’re desperate for subject matter. They’re everywhere. They’re smart, resourceful and don’t mind walking up to you to beg for a bite of whatever you’re eating. In the marshes they adopt fishing styles of other birds they observe. I’ve seen them stand in shallow water and stab prey like a heron. I’ve seen them swoop over open water and grab prey with their feet like an eagle. They flock with other grackles and with starlings, red-wings — anything that looks like them. They are so “common” because they so clever and adaptable.
Woo hoo. I can get into your site this morning without changing my browser.
We don’t have grackles but they are definitely a distinguished bird. Love that tail too.
Our frequent droughts have certainly changed which birds we see. This summer has been wet, but I doubt that many of the ‘interlopers’ have gone home. And sometimes their homes were burnt so badly they will take years to recover – if they do.
That’s good news, EC. Sounds like you figured it out. Interesting that you’re having a wet summer after all that drought and fire the last couple of years.
A very wet summer. Disastrous flooding in many areas.
Beautiful lighting.
I thought so too, Michael. I almost said how much I like that lighting as part of my post title.
You are hiding your learning curve struggles with the R5 very well, Ron! All of your images these past many days have been fabulous!
This shot makes the grackle look almost elegant, even while perched atop the chaos of all those matted phrags. I like the juxtaposition — it seems to be a metaphor for our times. Just not sure if it is a case of fiddling while Rome burns or the Phoenix rising from the ashes.
“You are hiding your learning curve struggles with the R5 very well.”
Ha, if you only knew, Marty. That’s because you don’t see the shots I mess up because I’m fiddling with buttons and dials. And the ones I completely miss for the same reason. So yeah, you’re right – I’m hiding my struggles, mostly.
OK, I’ll give you the natural setting, pretty pose, and that interesting tail, and will say no more. 😉 (Except I hope Everett’s suggestion of another Birds movie does not come to pass.)
Sounds like you’re among the non-fans, Chris. You aren’t alone.
Lovely colors. I am mostly use to seeing them in Southern Utah, but have started noticing a few at Farmington Bay and Bountiful Pond.
I may be joining you sooner than expected with the R5.
April, I saw your FB post about your camera giving up the ghost and a new camera on your horizon so I wondered which one you had on your radar. It’s a snazzy but complicated beast.
The grackles are pushing west (and north). Here in Oregon, Common Grackles are still rare but do on occasion show up. Great-tailed Grackles are now more frequent but still very uncommon. I wouldn’t be surprised if they eventually increase enough to have a breeding population here someday. Visitors from the east sometimes report our Brewer’s Blackbirds as grackles if they are not familiar with Brewer’s Blackbirds.
Dan, my friend Jim DeWitt lives in Boise and he says he hasn’t seen them there yet but he has seen them further east in ID.
I think Grackles might eventually increase in numbers enough to create another Alfred Hitchcock’s “BIRDS” movie. They really are handsome birds and your photo with the phrags is excellent. The other day at our Willow Lake I was taking a photo of another bird when all of a sudden they showed up in large numbers. Even though I was concentrating on my shot I could hear them coming. At a shopping center close to the lake they are everywhere and definitely not welcome visitors.
Everett, I see them only occasionally at shopping centers. This pond is where I see them most often so at least I can get them in some natural looking environments.
I really like the composition. Few colors, but that simplicity lends an elegance to the scene.
In contrast, your description of its behavior makes the Starling seem rather well-behaved.
Thanks, Lyle. Personally, I’m fonder of grackles than starlings.
Beautiful shot of a beautiful, even if obnoxious, bird! 🙂 We have had more in recent years even surplanting the Magpies in the yard last year. Redwings also a nuisance that, like the Grackles, tend to overwhelm the feeder. They are pretty BUT obnoxious song gets old in a hurry too! 😉 So far a few Redwings but no Grackles.
12 and pump still pumping – in theory, it will be “some” warmer for the next week. 😉
Judy, now this is weird, but I was thinking about you and your water pump last night as I was trying to fall asleep. Seems to me that it would be a pretty big deal if your pump froze up. My mind wandered from there to similar experiences we had on the farm in the early 50’s when I was a little kid.
It’s an ornamental pond BUT losing a pump of any sorts here is a BIG deal! 😉
Oh, I guess I assumed it was a stock pond.
It IS a stock pond(no stock now) – converted to a lily/one lonely butterfly koi pond…. 😉 Koi is still in it’s winter digs inside but lilies are out……
Great picture, I can see you have fallen in Love with R5!
Our back yard feeders are dominated from time to time by Grackles and Redwings. I’m not a big fan of grackles, but I don’t dislike them. On the other hand we love the Redwings!
“I can see you have fallen in Love with R5”
Mostly, Dick. But the transition to a very complex mirrorless camera hasn’t been without some struggles.