[cobirds] Grackle Observations (Arapahoe) + DU Merlin (Denver)

Lately, an incredible flock of Common Grackles has been hanging around my neighbors' and my yards in Centennial (Arapahoe). They like one neighbor's apple trees, and their effort in the tree sends the overripe fruits thudding to the ground. Between the sound of that and the creak of 150+ grackles, my chickens end up hiding away, mistaking the racket for a genuine threat. I was surprised to see this, as the birds can be brave around other noisy birds, such as magpies. 

I'm grateful for the presence of this flock. The sound is wonderful enough -- strange and uncommon in my neighborhood, as the birds prefer to stay around the open spaces during summer. And the activity is exciting, a constant whir between the fruiting trees and shrubs. When they decide to leave, all at once, the suburban tree line briefly fills with birds. 

Elsewhere, today at the University of Denver, several of us did an informal survey of birds on campus. We encountered no migrating songbirds (indeed, very uncommon on campus), but the morning began with a Merlin with a small songbird. It was my first campus Merlin and, eBird tells me, my 50th species of bird at DU in nearly a decade.

My last few encounters with Merlins have been like this -- this amazing hunter with a small songbird coming undone in its talons and beak. Previously, it was during the 2019 CBC (1/1/2020, if my memory is right (and eBird says it is), with the Denver Metro count), with Joe Roller and before COVID-19. A junco, then, was taken. 

- Jared Del Rosso

Centennial, CO

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