Sympathy for the Grackle

BirdNote^®
Sympathy for the Grackle
Written by Jonese Franklin

This is BirdNote. I’m Jonese Franklin, Content Director at BirdNote and I’m a newer birder.

    [Northern Cardinal song, ML339922801]

It kind of feels weird to call myself a birder, but if I’ve learned anything during my time at BirdNote it’s that birding is for all of us, even if we’re just getting started.

My wife and I often sit with our dogs on the back deck and watch as different birds visit the yard. I love seeing a pair of Northern Cardinals at the feeder, or a Blue Jay cracking open a peanut.

    [Blue Jay calls, ML107392]

And it may not be very cool to say, but I also enjoy those birds that are sometimes considered a nuisance. I like the Rock Pigeons, the European Starlings and House Sparrows. I love watching Common Grackles build their nests.

    [Common Grackle calls and wing flutter, ML224879931, 1:05-1:08]

Watching a pair of grackles work as a team, the female gathering materials while the male stands watch. Being up close and seeing their dedication to making sure their nest is just right for raising their young is pretty extraordinary.

I know some people are bothered by them. They bully other birds and clear out feeders. But this is where they live, it’s their home. They might be a nuisance, but they’re our birds, too.

    [Common Grackle calls and wing flutter, ML224879931]

For BirdNote, I’m Jonese Franklin.

###

Senior Producer: Mark Bramhill
Producer: Sam Johnson
Managing Editor: Jazzi Johnson
Managing Producer: Conor Gearin
Content Director: Jonese Franklin
Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Northern Cardinal song ML339922801 recorded by Matt Wistrand, Blue Jay calls ML107392 recorded by Wil Hershberger, Common Grackle calls and wing flutter ML224879931 recorded by Matthew D. Medler.
BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2024 BirdNote November 2024
Narrator: Jonese Franklin

ID# COGR-01-2024-11-18        COGR-01