🚀 go-pugleaf

Last year I'm sure that the Grackles migrated by this time.  We had a
few that wintered here, but the huge flocks had started to leave with
the Red-Winged Blackbirds and went off in a number of groups for a few
weeks after that.  The RWBs have been gone now since around Labor Day,
however there is still roughly 50 or so Grackles coming to my feeder
every morning and they stay all day, only leaving at sundown.   when
they're not feeding they're sitting in the hedges, trees or on my roof
as well as hanging around that birdbath.

We still have that white Grackle too.  I thought he had gone, but
nope, he's been here every day this week.  I guess I wasn't watching
closely enough before.  He is definately bigger then the others,
slower, and fatter.  Do birds go gray I wonder?  Because although this
one had streaks of white feathers on his back, wings and tail, his
tummy is now turning lighter as if it's turning white too.   All the
other Grackles leave him pretty much alone as well.  They fight with
eachother all the time, but never challenge this white one.

Maybe he's the group leader?  Wish I knew what was going on in these
bird brains, I had expected my feed bill to drop by this time, but
it's as high as ever.  I'm still going through 40 lbs of black oil
sunflower seeds a week as well as 40 lbs of regular mixed seed.   Last
winter my seed bills dropped by more then half because only the
Cardinals, a few Jays, sparrows, Mourning doves, and finches stuck
around along with the Downys and Chickadees.  Those Grackles eat like
carpet sweepers!

Anyhow, just wondering if someone knew what the heck was going on...

Lynda