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Gogirlgo
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Joined: 25 Jul 2002
Posts: 4777
Location: No deal, stalker.
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 Posted: 05/18/05 - 10:37 Post subject: The Birds revisited
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/05/18/birds.attack.ap/index.html
| Quote: |
Swooping grackles attack Houston residents
'This is a very Hitchcock kind of story'
Wednesday, May 18, 2005 Posted: 9:43 AM EDT (1343 GMT)
A grackle flies in front of the Harris County Administration Building in Houston, Texas.
HOUSTON, Texas (AP) -- Like a scene from the horror movie "The Birds," large black grackles are swooping down on downtown Houston and attacking people's heads, hair and backs.
Authorities closed off a sidewalk after the aggressive birds, which can have 2-foot wingspans, flew out of magnolia trees Monday in front of the County Administration Building.
"They were just going crazy," said constable Wilbert Jue, who works at the building. "They were attacking everybody that walked by."
The grackles zeroed in on a lawyer who shooed a bird away before he tripped and injured his face, Jue said. The lawyer was treated for several cuts.
It appears that the birds are protecting their offspring. On Monday a young grackle had fallen out of its nest and adult birds attacked people who got too close, Jue said.
Another bird attacked a deputy county clerk.
"I hit him with a bottle," said Sylvia Velasquez. "The other birds came, and one attacked my blouse and on my back."
Two women came to help her after she fell to the ground, and the birds attacked them as well. The group escaped by running into the building.
"This is a very Hitchcock kind of story. Very Tippi Hedren," said downtown worker Laura Aranda Smith, referring to one of the stars of Alfred Hitchcock's move "The Birds." |
It doesn't mention that the lawyer is planning to sue the birds for their role in his injury.
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robp
Pyromaniac
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Joined: 26 Jul 2002
Posts: 16242
Location: Waiting in line at the beer store...
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Posted: 05/18/05 - 10:38 Post subject: Re: The Birds revisited
| Gogirlgo wrote: | http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/05/18/birds.attack.ap/index.html
| Quote: |
Swooping grackles attack Houston residents
'This is a very Hitchcock kind of story'
Wednesday, May 18, 2005 Posted: 9:43 AM EDT (1343 GMT)
A grackle flies in front of the Harris County Administration Building in Houston, Texas.
HOUSTON, Texas (AP) -- Like a scene from the horror movie "The Birds," large black grackles are swooping down on downtown Houston and attacking people's heads, hair and backs.
Authorities closed off a sidewalk after the aggressive birds, which can have 2-foot wingspans, flew out of magnolia trees Monday in front of the County Administration Building.
"They were just going crazy," said constable Wilbert Jue, who works at the building. "They were attacking everybody that walked by."
The grackles zeroed in on a lawyer who shooed a bird away before he tripped and injured his face, Jue said. The lawyer was treated for several cuts.
It appears that the birds are protecting their offspring. On Monday a young grackle had fallen out of its nest and adult birds attacked people who got too close, Jue said.
Another bird attacked a deputy county clerk.
"I hit him with a bottle," said Sylvia Velasquez. "The other birds came, and one attacked my blouse and on my back."
Two women came to help her after she fell to the ground, and the birds attacked them as well. The group escaped by running into the building.
"This is a very Hitchcock kind of story. Very Tippi Hedren," said downtown worker Laura Aranda Smith, referring to one of the stars of Alfred Hitchcock's move "The Birds." |
It doesn't mention that the lawyer is planning to sue the birds for their role in his injury. |
I dispute grackles having 2 foot wingspans. I think they are talking about crows or ravens.
Flight
Flight Pattern: Strong swift direct flight on rapidly beating wings.
Wingspan Range: 17.75 inches
Wing Shape: Pointed-Wings
Tail Shape: Squared Tail
Tail Pattern: Solid
Upper Tail: Black
Lower Tail: Black
Legs: Black
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runaroundsue
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Joined: 18 Sep 2002
Posts: 6629
Location: supporting GREENer pastures
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Posted: 05/18/05 - 12:21 Post subject:
we have that problem with red-wing blackbirds. You need to wear a hat during nesting season. My doctor says he has had patients where they've pecked their faces. I just had one pull my hair while running.
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cherylpf
crazy cat lady
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Joined: 14 May 2002
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Posted: 05/18/05 - 12:38 Post subject:
Okay, let me just say that I didn't even know about this (which happens to be a couple blocks away from where I type right now) until it was ON THE FRONT PAGE OF CNN.COM!!
um...slow news day?
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Ms. Jenn
Fresh, Hot & Wild
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Joined: 14 Feb 2004
Posts: 7935
Location: Suite 550
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Posted: 05/18/05 - 13:36 Post subject:
Birds creep me out.
I went to the Alamo a couple years ago and a courtyard I walked though was covered with pigeons. I went the long way around to avoid them.
I'm not a big fan of hunting, but I want to shoot the birds trying to nest on my porch.
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RunsLikeAGirl
Member
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Joined: 01 Apr 2003
Posts: 1499
Location: Upstate.
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Posted: 05/18/05 - 15:05 Post subject:
| Ms. Jenn wrote: | Birds creep me out.
I went to the Alamo a couple years ago and a courtyard I walked though was covered with pigeons. I went the long way around to avoid them.
I'm not a big fan of hunting, but I want to shoot the birds trying to nest on my porch. |
I want to shoot the bird that spends its day pecking at my kitchen window and back window and side mirrors of my car. 
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Gogirlgo
Member
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Joined: 25 Jul 2002
Posts: 4777
Location: No deal, stalker.
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Posted: 05/18/05 - 15:06 Post subject:
grackle poo=way stinky. like pass-out stinky
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purple hayes
Frightened Inmate #2
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Joined: 14 May 2002
Posts: 14462
Location: ON YOUR LEFT!
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Posted: 05/18/05 - 15:08 Post subject:
| Ms. Jenn wrote: | | I went to the Alamo a couple years ago |
Did you get to see the basement?
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runaroundsue
Member
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Joined: 18 Sep 2002
Posts: 6629
Location: supporting GREENer pastures
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Posted: 05/18/05 - 17:01 Post subject:
| RunsLikeAGirl wrote: |
I want to shoot the bird that spends its day pecking at my kitchen window and back window and side mirrors of my car. |
I had one last year at my front door, there's a ledge on top and he'd peck at the window when the sun came up and in May/June that pretty early in WI. He showed up last month, but it lasted only a few days. Bryce said he took care of it. I never asked how, but we have a rock garden in front.....I'm guessing
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Ms. Jenn
Fresh, Hot & Wild
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Joined: 14 Feb 2004
Posts: 7935
Location: Suite 550
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Posted: 05/18/05 - 17:43 Post subject:
| purple hayes wrote: |
Did you get to see the basement? |
I wasn't in trouble, nor was I drunk.
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