Common Grackle

Common grackle: 

so it seems that I've recently discovered the common grackle, a medium sized bird that slightly resembles a crow or raven at first glance. Of course they've been here all along and in large numbers too, yet somehow they've escaped my notice, never capturing my imagination. I'm embarrassed to think that I've dismissed them as simply a blackbird without distinction, as even their name suggest that there's nothing very special about them, in fact, most often, they're considered a nuisance, problematic for farmers, aircraft, and other types of birds.

the common grackle has an image problem. 

really though, they're a beautiful bird, yes, with some issues of population and a somewhat aggressive nature, descending on crops and driving other birds away. But it's an issue of survival, a grackles instinct to thrive in an often difficult world for birds and people. It's hard to fault them for the many habits that we seem to share with them, our own large numbers, competition with others species, and consuming a vast amount of resources. And at least we're not given a label such as "common people" and described as a nuisance species. Perhaps most truly, we're seeing a bit of our own image reflected back to us with the grackle and like little of what we see. 

and it's easier to blame a bird.

especially if it's a common grackle.

this doesn't mean that they're aren't some issues to address, or that the damaged caused by the grackle isn't a real concern. But nothing will be solved without looking at things from a holistic perspective, seeing things from nature's angle and how everything belongs within the context of a larger picture. Grackles belong here, the environment is their home, and this includes the loudness of their call and often aggressive behavior. It's our home too, with all of our own faults and destructive tendencies. So there's much we can learn from grackles, perhaps even gaining a sense of hope that we possess an intelligence that allows us to view the world with empathy and compassion. 

to once more be holistic. 

grackles also give back to nature, they perform a necessary role of predator as well as prey, being a nuisance only through the lens of our own perspective. This doesn't mean they don't cause problems, or remain in competition with other birds. They do and are - but holistically they somehow belong within the entire framework. 

as do we.

perhaps that's lesson from the grackle.

that we are all belong in some unique and unfathomable way. 

and that's our connection. 

~

Peace, Eric 

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Thank you.