Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 2 · column 1 of 6 · from the scan, no model involved
[Editor’s note: This is the first half of a two-part story on the courtship methods used by local birds.]
The courtship rituals and displays a male bird uses to attract a mate are the same he uses to warn off an intruding rival. This fnakes feeder watching more interesting than usual at this time of year.
In April, flocks of Common Grackles move north and make their presence known at feeders in the Virginia Piedmont. Soon after, an iridescent male can be observed fluffing out his feathers so that he looks like a recentlyshaken dust mop. On termination of this display, he will emit a high pitched and ineffectual sounding fleep.
This fluffing of feathers by males — so curious to humans — is designed to impress the female with the iridescence of his purple, bronze and greenish plumage. It also suggests that the grackle is larger than he is. A larger size implies that he will be forceful in protecting her and resourceful at finding food for the young. The female finds this enticing; a male has singled her out for his attentions and future mating. If another male moves in too closely, the same display is
f
96.7%