… and grackles foraging across Nevada, exploiting urban food scraps. One of my favorite things about visiting southern climates is the summer night chatter of grackles … the cavatina that becomes the dissonant ensemble of grackle song when huge groups of the birds roost on urban plazas.
These were winter-time grackles — Great-tailed Grackles roaming the parking lots of Las Vegas in search of handouts and leftovers. I particularly love the way grackles use their large feet to hold and manipulate objects … while nearby pigeons wait for the fallout of crumbs.
When I drove out to the amazing Henderson Bird Preserve near Vegas (more in a future post), the docent apologized for the reduced bird activity during my midday visit. I told him if I saw even a grackle I’d be happy. He gave me a “suit yourself” look and then assured me that if grackles were my measure of a good visit, I’d probably be in heaven. I saw only one grackle there … this one:
Grackle at Henderson - ©ingridtaylar
The rest of these shots represent pavement foraging by enterprising birds.
Grackles & Apples - ©ingridtaylar
Female Grackles & Apples - ©ingridtaylar
Male Grackle With Nictitating Membrane Over Eye - ©ingridtaylar
Curious Female - ©ingridtaylar
Female Strutting - ©ingridtaylar
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Ingrid,
I know quite a few photographers who don’t like Grackles, I’m not one of them. I enjoy observing and photographing them, especially since the males are a challenge to expose correctly to show their beautiful iridescence. Well done!
Mia, do they dislike Grackles for their behavior, or because they simply don’t like photographing them? I must admit, I’m an equal opportunity photographer. In fact, I’m enamored with the more “common” species because I think their spectacular qualities are too often overlooked …. pigeons, case in point.
Ingrid,
As near as I can tell some of the photographers don’t like the aggressive behvaior of the Great-tailed Grackles and some just don’t like photographing plain birds. If it has feathers and flies I will photograph it. Every bird has wonderful qualites and I think even common birds have uncommon beauty.