Yes - though the Red-winged Blackbird didn't stay as long. I saw that on my first trip to Malheur, about 15 or 16 years ago. I was told that it wasn't unusual for the blackbirds to be that aggressive, as the cranes would prey on their nestlings. I didn't see that type of behavior the next time I went, but it was a bit earlier in the spring and much colder than the first time.

Ruth Taylor
Seattle
rutht at seanet.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Hugh Jennings <hughbirder at earthlink.net>
To: Tweeters E-mail <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Date: Monday, May 24, 2004 8:21 AM
Subject: Red-winged Blackbird Ride


In my previous posting about a trip to Malheur NWR I forgot to include the following incident. Has anyone seen anything like this before?



The second group on Friday saw a Red-winged Blackbird land on the back of a Sandhill Crane and it stayed there as long as they could follow it with their binoculars.



Hugh Jennings

Bellevue, WA