5/31/12 Grackles, crows, jackdaws, whatever their
regional common name, have a glossy black plumage. At
our house, they eat all the pricey bird food that hubby buys for the flickers
and jays. Very territorial, their raucous “threats” scare off other birds, namely our
little songbirds. (Wish they would scare off the squirrels.)
On a more positive note, I do appreciate that
blackbirds are a monogamous species, and the established pair will usually stay
together as long as they both survive.
Plus, blackbirds preening in front of our
breakfast room window, another daily activity, is actually kind of fun to watch
as they display immense “self-satisfaction”.
Blackbirds usually displayed in literature as
destructive were given a new “light” by dear friend and author, Ashley Bryan’s,
depiction in Beautiful Blackbird.” (2003)
Blackbird in Ashley’s book says, "Color on the
outside is not what’s on the inside. You don’t act like me. You don’t eat like
me. You don’t get down in the groove and move your feet like me. (my
favorite line)….Just remember, whatever I do, I’ll be me and you’ll be you.”
Those lines spoke volumes to me of acceptance and
are so easily lined up with scripture’s admonition to not just look on the “outside.”
For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on
the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. (I Samuel 16:7)
