Interesting grackle observations. I'd like to add one, from an 
unpublished manuscript lent to me, written by W. F. Henninger, an Ohio 
ornithologist and Moravian Brethren pastor, just about 115 years ago. 
The "canal" mentioned was the Ohio Canal, back when it was the closest 
thing we had to freeways at the time; hence the three hotels in this 
little Pike County seat, now a freckle on the map with a human 
population of about 4500.
        "Quiscalus quiscula aeneus.  Bronzed Grackle. Very common summer 
resident. Arrival: April 8, 1895; March 24 1896, March 8, 1898, March 4, 
1899, March 5, 1899, Nov. 2, 1900.  Two Grackle roosts were observed by 
me during the summer months of 1900; principally was my attention turned 
to the one in the midst of the town of Waverly in the Water Street Park 
at the Canal.  The Grackle roost was just across from 3 hotels, but the 
birds were seldom molested by the people.  This roosting place first 
came under my observation on July 8th.  The first birds, that would come 
in every evening were solitary ones; they began to come in at 4 p.m. 
when the days became shorter, from 15 to 20 minutes earlier. The rest 
would come in bunches of 3, sometimes 4, flocks of 50 to 200 in short 
intervals.  Sometimes they were disturbed and many would circle around 
for a long time before settling.  In the morning the last ones would 
leave at 5 a.m.—this grackle roost was of great interest to any bird 
lover. During the year 1900 it has become the custom of many wealthy 
young people in Chillicothe to shoot the “black birds” when they go to 
roost of an evening, as they are considered “fine eating.” As laws in 
this country are written for all, but never used against the wealthy, 
they go unpunished; who would want a wealthy man for an enemy for the 
sake of a “blackbird” or such a trifle as shooting inside of the city 
limits!"
Bill Whan
Columbus

On 11/4/2015 5:46 AM, Nancy Obryan wrote:
> I've been wondering when the grackles would come to Novelty (Russell)
> this year. The last 2 years, they have landed en masse on our roof
> (sounds like thunder) and started to clean our gutters--sifting
> through the leaves to get to the maple seeds!
>
> Last year, there was a swirling cloud of maybe 10,000 grackles. They
> stayed in our area 2 or 3 days.
>
>> Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2015 09:21:59 -0500 From: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: [Ohio-birds] starling, etc, flock, Chardon To:
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>> Many thousands of mixed blackbirds were streaming over Chardon High
>> School this morning; starlings, redwing blackbirds, cowbirds, and
>> grackles. It was one of the largest flocks I have seen in years;
>> people were standing outside, gawking. I assume the moonlit night
>> was an aide to navigation.
>> or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]

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