Expert: Julia Booth - 4/24/2008

Question
I live in Phoenix AZ. This past several days I have noticed what I think are Grackles (but not sure, they have a longer bent beak) standing in groups in the road looking straight up in the sky.  There has not been anything over them.  Is this a sign of impending disaster? Space Aliens?  ha ha.  Have you seen this before?

Answer
As unscientific as this sounds, Grackles are weird. I have seen them do odd things. In Las Vegas, where the strip is lit as brightly as daytime, they stay awake 24 hours a day and walk around -totally oblivious to the fact that it is night time.

That's not even the weirdest thing they do. They do something called "anting" which involves wiping ants, millipedes, mothballs, and marigolds on their feathers. The rubbed compounds are thought to soothe irritated skin as well as help control ectoparasites. One chemical in Calendula flowers is known to inhibit egg laying in species of ticks and mites.

I have no idea what they're staring at, but if alien life is coming to Earth, the Grackles will be the first to greet them.

You have both Common and Great-tailed Grackles where you live.