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PHOENIX, Az. -----
Great-tailed Grackles are now gathering together into great noisy flocks each
evening as they prepare to roost for the night. They begin arriving up to an
hour before sunset at preferred locations in groups of fifty to well over two
hundred birds. After having lost and regrown there
tail feathers a month ago, the males now sport a regalia of glossy
black feathers and a huge tail. Females have a considerably smaller tail and
are dark brown in color. Males and females seem to keep mostly segregated when
sleeping or foraging. They forage a bit in the lawns or parking areas, get a
drink from the irrigation system, and engage each other vocally.
The purpose of these flocks are two-fold. These are
tropical birds that prefer to stay warm through the chilly desert nights. By
selecting trees with a dense canopy of foliage and packing themselves close
together they can maintain a comfortable microclimate. In addition there is
safety in numbers. With a hundred pairs of eyes and ears it is difficult for a
predator to sneak among them taking prey. If the birds all flush at once as if
startled by a prowling animal, that animal will be confused if not frightened
away by the sudden commotion.
Soon after dark the noisy chatter stops and the birds
enter a slumber. Come early morning, at the first sign of light in the east,
the crescendo of Grackle-chatter again begins to build. It's fun to imagine
what is being communicated: Plans for the day? Wishes for good luck? Or just
dominance rights proclaimed? With dawn the birds again gather in the lawn or
parking area where they preen, stand in groups with each other, and taking
turns strutting around. Finally they head out in smaller groups of 5 to 10
birds on their daily foraging activities.
Preferred trees to roost in are evergreen Ficus nitida
and Eucalyptus. Several large flocking areas in central Phoenix:
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Desert Market Shopping Center, Missouri and Seventh Street
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Small Park in road median Central Ave and Roosevelt
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Eucalyptus trees along north side of I-17 at Seventh Street
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Formerly at Bridal Chapel courtyard, Camelback at 17th Ave. This property and
the fig trees were buldozed
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Cave Creek Rd. & Union Hills reported by Jorge
If you know of other flock locations in Central Phoenix
please report them!
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