Grackle & Robin: The Dynamic Duo!
I spent a good portion of my morning making this. Time well spent, indeed. This is the kind of shit that pops into my head when I'm lying awake in bed. Though, if any bird could be the Batman of the bird world, I guess the common grackle would fit the bill. <pause for laughter> Or, as I called them until recently, crows. I'm continuously identifying new birds that have been right in front of me the whole time. My trusty guide, Birding For Beginners: Northeast, has been instrumental in that endeavor.
These large, migratory blackbirds are starting to return from their long winter vacation. This one doesn't look too pleased with all of the snow. Join the club, pal. What makes this bird so easy to identify are it's bright, golden eyes. Common grackles also have a blueish sheen on their heads.
This one was visiting my suet feeder looking for something to peck at. Or, maybe it was interested in the berries hanging from the tree. A common grackle has stronger muscles for opening it's mouth than for closing it. This makes it's long bill ideal for prying apart crevices to find hidden insects.
The American robin doesn't always migrate south for the winter. However, I hadn't seen any until around the first of March. Now, I see them everywhere. A robin's diet consists mostly of earthworms, insects, and berries. This male robin was busy pulling the red berries from these branches and dropping them on the ground.
Wherever we are, we are surrounded by nature. It's always trying to communicate with us. Take time to notice. #NoticeNature.
