New Friends at Camp Kreitzer

We have lived here in the Valley for ten years and I have never seen a red-winged blackbird (They were common at Huntley Meadows in Alexandria.) until one arrived at our bird feeder a few days ago. Now every morning I hear its distinctive burring screech and it gives me goosebumps. They are little warriors with their red epaulets and we welcome them at Camp Kreitzer and hope they stay.

Now the grackles, on the other hand, are blackbirds I can do without and the first one landed on the feeder this morning. We will see hordes in a day or two who will clean out the feeder in a matter of hours, not to mention drive all the other birds away. They are such bullies. Ah...well...God made them and so let them pass for birds (bastardized Shakespeare -- if you can guess the original and who said it you identify yourself as a Shakespeare enthusaist!)