Grackles attack people in Texas

What is going on?

The associated press recently reported that large aggressive grackles are attacking people in Houston Texas. This behavior was even compared to Hitchcock's movie "The Birds"! Authorities have had to close down the sidewalk to protect people as they walk by.

Great-tailed Grackles in Texas are not trying to take over the city, they are simply trying to protect and raise their young.  Grackles nest in colonies. One male usually mates with many females and protects a nesting territory of 1 or more trees. The females build their nests in this territory. Males and Female adults at nesting colonies are loud and boisterous if approached by potential predators such as large birds, squirrels, and ...humans.  Male birds w ill mob people when they get near the nesting trees… even striking humans on the head from behind.  Groups of females will hover, screaming and calling loudly.

Great-tailed Grackles lay 3 or 4  bright blue to pale blue-gray eggs with dark brown or black markings. Female grackles will incubate (sit on the eggs to keep them warm) for about 13 to 14 days before hatching. The young leave the nest after approximately 12 days but they stay in the nest trees or on the ground begging from their mother for several days after leaving the nest and cannot fly well for at least 2 weeks. Female Great-tailed Grackles will feed their young insects, worms, lizards, fruit, garbage, etc.. Male grackles defend nestlings and fledglings (young birds that have left the nest) hatched in his territory but do not participate in the parental care

So please be forgiving! These birds are only trying to be the best parents they know how.