… 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
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.
There are some regulations re going out of business sale, they must first obtain a special permit.
But on Wednesday, before retreating to trade down 0. Some companies will
sell or auction off their leftover merchandise whenever they go out of business, you aren’t
always getting the best product.