ALANE S. CALLANDER / Stafford County Sun
Published: March 12, 2008

I wasn't sure if they were on schedule or off schedule. The way our weather is so unpredictable, I figured the birds may be as confused as the plants get when spring or summer days crop up in the middle of winter.

The thought of birds wouldn't have lasted long, if indeed they had continued on their way, but they didn't. These large flocks are still feeding on our front and back lawn and on the neighbors' lawns as well.

When I walk out the door, these intriguing feathered creatures - topped with iridescent dark blue heads -- rush away. Their presence isn't scary like in that old Alfred Hitchcock flick "The Birds," but it's definitely puzzling.

A call to the county agriculture extension office answered a few questions; to start, the name of the birds I've observed is the "common grackle."

The "common grackle-" Funny my dear second grade teacher, in central Illinois, never mentioned grackle. She told us about all the birds that she could see from her kitchen window, but she never mentioned the common grackle.

Except for a few occasional moments of wonderment when I see a beautiful red cardinal or handsome blue jay perched on our back deck, I am not a bird watcher like my teacher was.

Still, I have found our feathered friends fascinating on occasion. Take the woodpecker, for example.

A woodpecker befriended us once. He pecked at the window frame of our bedroom window early each morning at the exact same time - even on the weekend.

I guess he wanted to be sure we got off to an early start. When we moved out of that house, I wondered if the new owners appreciated the bird as much as we did.

Then there was the catbird, at our current home, that for at least two summers harassed our cat. On a hot summer's day, the cat would enjoy stretching out on the front sidewalk.

Then the catbird would swoop down, intent on taunting our furry companion. This became the talk of the neighborhood. It was a great icebreaker as neighbors would stroll by the house and joke about the comical cat/bird relationship.

As I sit here at my computer, I hear the call now known to be characteristic of the common grackle. On pulling open the curtains, I see grackle perched on tree branches, flying from one to another, and then flocking toward a neighbor's yard.

With research, I have learned that grackle are abundant - not endangered - and are even considered pests at times. They like open fields because they can forage for seeds there; hence, the appeal of my lawn.

If you're a farmer, you may find your crops threatened by grackle, and you probably are quite familiar with them.

Because these birds flock in such large numbers, and hang around suburban neighborhoods, they can sure leave a mess with their droppings in quantity.

However, if you're having a problem with Japanese beetles decimating your rose bushes, grackle will come to your rescue.

The question remains, though: Why are we seeing such quantities of these birds in our neighborhood this year- Is it because their habitat was destroyed, and they sought out a new stomping ground-

Did it have anything to do with the recent deforestation at nearby Leeland Station-

Grackle like to build their nests in cedar trees or dense shrubs.

I wonder if those are grackle who have settled into a shrub at my window.

Loss of habitat is something that can be sad. Once

I found birds sleeping on the top of my car that was parked in a sheltered urban parking structure, and I saw baby birds nearby.

As strange as it seems, their habitat was a cement garage. It's like raising a child in a hi-rise city apartment, devoid of nature.

At least the grackle has moved from one outdoor habitat to another, and they have freely chosen their new home. It's great to have wildlife inhabit this suburban neighborhood and liven up the place.

Alane Callander is a south Stafford resident active in many local causes. Reach her at .

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