Birds of a feather are flocking together and making a racket at Jean Lafitte’s Barataria Preserve in Marrero this month. Look---and listen---for flocks of red-winged blackbirds. Male red-winged blackbirds are easy to identify with their red shoulder patches; the females have better camouflage and are a nondescript dark brown. To reduce risks from predators, red-winged blackbirds nest in groups (and usually over water). Males act as sentinels and have a variety of calls that indicate what kind of danger has been spotted and just how dangerous they are. While you’re looking for blackbirds, keep your eyes open for the rusty blackbird. Rusty blackbirds often are seen with their red-winged relatives and are unfortunately undergoing a major decline in the whole western hemisphere. Become an instant blackbird expert with a visit to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s website. ow.ly/sBRHe
Posted on: Tue, 21 Jan 2014 16:31:07 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015