Blog de Puree

It’s that time of year again, when the Red-winged blackbirds have arrived in force to our neck of the woods. Coming from area marshes, meadows, fields and wetlands in Salisbury, Newburyport and Newbury, they often come to the fields, woodlands and yards of Amesbury during spring foraging trips.

In fact, they came in huge numbers around this time last year as well.

The huge flock of Blackbirds are often seen in this area with a murmuration of European Starlings and a congress of Common Grackles, (See our previous post about descriptive bird groups) that travel in one noisy, giant flock that disperses itself in trees and lawns through at least three or four yards at a time. They typically number in the hundreds and it’s a bit a alarming to see your back lawn virtually covered in black and brown birds.

Regardless of the large numbers of birds in the yard, it’s great to see them like this. It’s a harbinger of spring—even though it’s snowing right now. Ugh!