I still don’t have the words I need to say what I want to say. Maybe in a few days.
So, in the meantime, here is a picture of a Brewer’s Blackbird. We have seen them around the neighborhood for years, but they have moved in to our backyard since Alphie decided we needed a bird feeder. We have three regular camps of birds, with the grackles clearly being the most defensive of the new food source.
The smaller birds don’t seem too bothered by the grackles, though they give them some space, and move around the larger group as singular birds. The two doves who show up from time to time stay well away from the ever present group of blackbirds that jump back and forth from the fence to the feeder.