Grackle

Grackle, as seen from my window. 4-6-11

*****

Ms Grackle here on my picket fence.

She certainly has a different demeanor than the

Mourning Dove, doesn't she? She doesn't seem

as soft and sweet. She doesn't seem as naive either.

No pink toes or powder blue eyeshadow for her!

No, she looks more like a female superhero!

She's confident, authoritative, and beautifully shiny.

I love her keen yellow eyes and striped long legs. She's

also an excellent mom. I watched a grackle a few

years ago when one of her young fell from a nest high

in a maple tree. It couldn't fly yet and it was pouring

rain. He landed on his back and lay there with his legs

straight up in the air, unable to move. Mom flew down

and flipped him right side up and fussed over him

for a while. She would feed the babies in the nest

and then swoop down and feed the little one on the

ground. Just like humans, right? Sometimes our kids

need extra care, love and work and we don't even

think twice..we do it because we love them and

because they belong to us.

♥