Weird birds with strange call and funny mating dance. (Austin: neighborhood, high school)

[synch390]

I've just moved to Dan Antonio, and I have noticed the weird black birds everywhere doing a hoppy/flappy dance with their wigs out and tails fanned out, they have a really odd call. Are these just mating blackbirds, or something else?

[RoamingWolves]

Around here they are called high school students

[HillCountryHotRodMan]

LOL... so true!

Those are Great tailed Grackles..... get used to 'em because they are everywhere and they are mating and nesting. Don't park under the trees if you shop at HEB.

[wellguy]

Originally Posted by RoamingWolves

Around here they are called high school students

I Rep'd you since that is so damn funny. Thanks for making my day much better. You too HillCountryHotRodMan (I can't rep you now but I will as soon as I am able)

Several years ago my work pickup was parked under a tree at our old office Downtown. It was only for the weekend and it had Grackle Crap everywhere. I still remeber having to drive it to the nearest service center to wash it. Boy did I feel Stupid.

[Sharpydove]

I enjoy the grackles... I know, I know... I'm in the minority. The males are black; females are brown... we have a male in our neighborhood who has been following a group of gals around trying to show off and do his best to get a mate. I give them peanuts once in awhile. In Oklahoma, they would almost take over my feeders, but here, not so much.
I'm still hoping the painted bunting comes back in April. As a birder, I was thrilled to see him last spring.

[LindaGrace]

Grackles are nasty nasty birds. Yick.

[HillCountryHotRodMan]

Originally Posted by Sharpydove

I'm still hoping the painted bunting comes back in April. As a birder, I was thrilled to see him last spring.

I have never seen the painted bunting. Glad you got to see it. I like going out to the blinds at S. Llano River State Park but have still not seen the bunting...

I agree with Linda. The grackles crap everywhere, knock mockingbird babies out of their nests and generally wreak havoc.

[Sharpydove]

HCHRM,
Do you know of any other good places to go birding here?? Or does anybody? I had the bunting for the month of April last year... along with his ladyfriend (who isn't as colorful). Then, when the heat came, they left. I almost cried when I saw him- got a few pictures, thank goodness.
This spring, the Caro wrens are nesting all over my back porch

[HillCountryHotRodMan]

I don't know many places around town, but there are some great places out in the hill country. In Boerne, there is the Cibolo Nature Center. I saw a hawk and an owl playing up in the trees by the creek area in the fall of 2005, one of the best things I have seen.

The Lost Pines are full of woodpeckers east of Austin in Bastrop. The State park there is great, lots of nature opportunities. When Palmetto state park isn't dried up, there are a ton of birds out there on the short trails. I last went there last summer before the rains, not much out there then.

I could go on and on about all the places.

[Camper1]

Love the Painted buntings! We get them every year and it's a real treat. I had about 10 Cedar Waxwings in the bird bath today. Of all the years I've lived here I have never noticed them before. The little bandit like mask is beautiful.

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