Birds have never really been my thing. Oh, I enjoy watching those crazy, little hummingbirds fight over a feeder, and it’s funny when a mama mockingbird goes after a perceived predator. Other than that, I haven’t done much bird watching. But the other day, some grackles (at least I think they were grackles) proved entertaining.
Roger and I were in a store parking lot near a busy intersection when I noticed a huge flock of the large, black birds. It was almost sundown and the birds appeared to be trying to find a perch for the night.
About a zillion of them started landing on the high-line wires across the highway. Once all four lines were filled, they seemed to settle down — for about 10 seconds. I guess the ones who’d made the mistake of perching on the lower lines decided they didn’t like being in the line of fire, so to speak. Suddenly, the whole herd (okay, flock) took off. It was like a Chinese fire drill. The sky turned black as all the birds flew in circles and then re-perched themselves on the lines. This went on every minute or so.
Apparently some of the more intelligent ones got tired of the constant movement and opted to go elsewhere. In a matter of a couple of minutes, the tops of all the business signs were lined with black birds.
The sign dwellers, along with us, continued to watch as the high-line dwellers rearranged themselves. The expressions on the faces of some of the birds perched near us seemed to say, “Idiots! Find a spot and stay there, for goodness sakes.”
I couldn’t help but wonder what was going through their seemingly confused minds. Was one section of the line warmer than the other? Did one line vibrate or hum more pleasingly than the rest? Did some of the feathered creatures actually prefer being on those lower lines? (A disturbing thought)
Whatever the problem, the poor, now dizzy birds continued and were still circling, landing, flying up in the air like they’d been electrocuted, circling, landing, and flying again when we left.
Now I know where the term “bird brain” got started.
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Happy birthday Tuesday to Kamea Deon Barnum, Dennis O’Toole, Kahne Logston and Brittany Boler, all of Denison; Duke Walker, Odessa Marie Howard, Johnnie Tate, Morris Royal, Caiden Hayes, Gloria Dean Nelson Young and Ted Bearden, all of Sherman; Mary Barr of Pottsboro; Scott Beezley of Bonham; and Valda Coffey.
Happy anniversary Tuesday to Joe and Deloris Bertino of Whitesboro, 59 years; Garry and Janie Rogers of Leonard, 43 years; Cory Don and Stephanie Louis of Sherman, 9 years; Will and Ashlund Carson of Sherman, 3 years; Richard and Harolyn Berry of Sherman.
