Marsh Birds
Red-winged blackbirds are our most common marsh bird on campus, identifiable with their bright red shoulder feathers and “conk-le-ri-dee!” call. In the winter, they form large multi-species flocks with starlings and grackles, creating the massive aerial displays, or murmurations, you can see in December as thousands of birds fly together.
Divebomber
Red-winged Blackbirds are very territorial during mating season, attacking anything that gets too close to their nest via divebombings. While humans are often not close enough to get attacked, birders are sometimes not so lucky. I remember walking along the brush of Kingswood Lake once and suddenly feeling the violent thud of a feathered body against my head, the sound of an angry chatter flying into my ear as I stumbled away from the trees and onto the dirt path.
More encounters
