haughty. Once a bird-watching friend commented that grackles reminded

haughty. Once a bird-watching friend commented that grackles reminded her of girls walking in their first high heels. That is a likely description; it fits.

Grackles have yellow eyes which give the birds a baleful, .almost menacing, aspect. This is only appearance, in the mind of the grackle watcher. Sounds of grackles, a series of rasping notes and squeaky gate sounds, are not pleasant to the human ear used to the elegant songs of Cardinals and wrens. In searching for objectivity in observing and hearing birds, it is important to remember that the grackle is not talking to us. His sounds are for other grackles and maybe for other birds to suggest strongly that they get out of the way at the feeder. Grackles want no competition for space and food. ° When two or more Common Grackles find themselves too close, they point their bills straight up. It’s a threat posture. This pointing up with the bill is also part of courtship and females apparently find it most appealing. Aggressive behavior and courtship display are very similar in birds. It is difficult to know when a bird is threatening another of the same species or showing off for a mate.

This leads to more thinking of adolescent boys — and some well beyond adolescence — and their playful attacks on other males. This most often occurs when there are young ladies present. Birds are not so different from us after all.

I’m glad grackles are back to enliven the month of March and remind me that spring is indeed on the way. Soon other birds will be doing what grackles are doing now — courting and displaying for mates. Actually the chickadees are doing it now. It’s just that they are so tiny and fast one can’t tell what’s really going on. Pay close attention: what looks like chickadees fighting and chasing each other through the trees may be a male in pursuit of a female. Spring is close.