18 October 2023
This month a flock of 100 to 200 not unusual grackles has been striking out at Frick Park, chattering within the timber and swirling in a dense flock each time they’re disturbed. That is conventional fall habits for grackles and blackbirds however I puzzled why they picked the park.
In step with Birds of the International, not unusual grackles (Quiscalus quiscula) aren’t very territorial right through the breeding season and drop all contention in fall and wintry weather. On migration and at overwintering websites they like to roost and feed in massive flocks, occasionally combined with different blackbirds and a few robins.
Not unusual grackles roost close to abundant meals however they don’t require wild puts. City roosts are incessantly preferred on tree-lined streets or in parks. Their fall roosts in New Jersey can comprise 3,000-500,000 birds (of which grackles contain 33%).
This flock at Patuxent in Maryland seems to be to be 100% grackles.
See what it’s love to be within the woodland with loads of grackles on this video from Get To Know Nature in New Jersey.
The large grackle flocks most likely received’t keep in southwestern PA for the wintry weather. Through December they’re additional south, as proven at the eBird Dec-Feb map beneath.
However for now we now have loads of grackles within the timber.
(credit are within the captions; click on at the captions to look the originals)