Sounds right.
Halfway between robin and pigeon.
At 11:38 AM 3/10/2006, you wrote:
>Splendid pic of grackle, Mark -- how big a bird is it? I'd got the
>word muddled with grockle, which is the west-country word for a
>tourist as I'm sure Lawrence will confirm.
>
>That Latin name sounds as though they're saying 'Who the hell, who the heck'.
>
>I would support Patrick in plumping for 'fluff feathers' or 'fluffed-up'.
>
>joanna
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Weiss" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 2:56 PM
>Subject: Re: help--translation query
>
>
>>Australia must hold the record for noisy birds.
>>
>>I'm more a bird noticer than a bird watcher. Grackles (
>>
>>Quiscalus quiscula--isn't google grand?) gather in hundreds and
>>sound like their name. They also shit a lot on unaware walkers.
>>Rather like starlings for annoyance value. Black with dark purple
>>heads. A good photo at
>>http://spurr.pls.uni.edu/birds/photos/common_grackle_a.jpg, and lo!
>>it's puffed up. Otherwise sleek as a crow.
>>
>>As to birds and poets, this from my childhood, in the mock-hillbilly genre:
>>
>>"Oh a bird laid some turd on the mountain I hear."
>>"That was no bird that was no turd that was me-e."
>>
>>What's "having a lend"?
>>
>>Mark
>>
>>
>>
>>At 09:37 AM 3/10/2006, you wrote:
>>>Hi Mark,
>>>
>>>First of all, what's a grackle? I assume you're not having a lend.
>>>
>>>But I would be interested in the correct name for the term as
>>>well. There does seem to be a thing about poets and birds.
>>>
>>>I'm a lazy bird watcher myself and rarely know the correct word
>>>for ornithological things. But I notice them all the same.
>>>Tonight, there was a real racket across the street as I was coming
>>>home, ooh, about 7ish. Most likely parrots of some kind. I
>>>couldn't see them but they were, obviously, apparent.
>>>
>>>Cheers,
>>>Jill
>>>
>>>
>>>On Saturday, March 11, 2006, at 01:06 AM, Mark Weiss wrote:
>>>
>>>>OK, I need some feedback from birdwatchers. In the winter birds
>>>>puff out their feathers fro warmth. Is there/are there a
>>>>term/terms for this? From the scientific to the colloquial.
>>>>
>>>>I realize this question is likely to inspire some general levity,
>>>>not to say tom-foolery (origin?), which I'd appreciate as much as
>>>>the next guy/gal, but I really could use the help on this one.
>>>>
>>>>A tribeof grackles has taken up residence in the park outside my
>>>>window--maybe 25 males. Quiet so far--probably waiting for a
>>>>critical mass to build up. Oh lucky me.
>>>>
>>>>Mark
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________________
>>>Jill Jones
>>>
>>>Latest books:
>>>Broken/Open. Available from Salt Publishing
>>>http://www.saltpublishing.com/books/smp/1844710416.htm
>>>
>>>Where the Sea Burns. Wagtail Series. Picaro Press
>>>PO Box 853, Warners Bay, NSW, 2282. [log in to unmask]
>>>
>>>Struggle and radiance: ten commentaries (Wild Honey Press)
>>>http://www.wildhoneypress.com
>>>
>>>web site: http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~jpjones
>>>blog1: Ruby Street http://rubystreet.blogspot.com/
>>>blog2: Latitudes http://itudes.blogspot.com/
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