Female Red Wing Black Birds on Cattails.

Description:

This big flock of birds flew in last week, they are eating the seeds in the cattails. There are hundreds of these birds.

Habitat:

Migrating from the north to the south for winter.

Notes:

This plant is not a healing agent, but is used as preventative medicine. It is an easily digestible food helpful for recovering from illness, as it is bland. Most all parts of the plant, except for the mature leaves and the seed head, are edible. Due to wide-spread growing areas, it is a reliable food source all across America. The root has a very high starch content, and can be gathered at any time. Preparation is very similar to potatoes, and can be mashed, boiled, or even mixed with other foods. The male plant provides a pollen that is a wonderful source of protein. It can be added as a supplement to other kinds of flour when making breads.

Species ID Suggestions

12 Comments

p.young713 12 years ago

Thank You Emma!! That was a great link!! It explains all the migrating patterns!!
It looks like the males migrate first. Very interesting data! :)

Hema Shah 12 years ago

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/search/Rwb...
This link might answer some of your questions.

p.young713 12 years ago

Thank you, Emma! Your spotting of the male is very good, the colors are pretty!

Hema Shah 12 years ago

http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/684...,
@ pyoung,
interesting to know that red winged blackbirds nest in cat tails!
great spotting!!

p.young713 12 years ago

Thank you all! I learn so much on this website!! I did not know that they nest in the cattails but did see that they use it for nesting materials. I was fascinated with the Hugh flock of them, they fly in odd zigzag patterns.