Hostile Grackles Attack People in Houston

[Clandestino]

Wed May 18, 7:24 AM ET



HOUSTON - Like a scene from the horror movie "The Birds," large black grackles are swooping down on downtown Houston and attacking people's heads, hair and backs.

ADVERTISEMENT

Authorities closed off a sidewalk after the aggressive birds, which can have 2-foot wingspans, flew out of magnolia trees Monday in front of the County Administration Building.

"They were just going crazy," said constable Wilbert Jue, who works at the building. "They were attacking everybody that walked by."

The grackles zeroed in on a lawyer who shooed a bird away before he tripped and injured his face, Jue said. The lawyer was treated for several cuts.

It appears that the birds are protecting their offspring. On Monday a young grackle had fallen out of its nest and adult birds attacked people who got too close, Jue said.

Another bird attacked a deputy county clerk.

"I hit him with a bottle," said Sylvia Velasquez. "The other birds came, and one attacked my blouse and on my back."

Two women came to help her after she fell to the ground, and the birds attacked them as well. The group escaped by running into the building.

"This is a very Hitch kind of story. Very Tippi Hedren," said downtown worker Laura Aranda Smith, referring to one of the stars of Alfred Hitch 's move "The Birds."

[AlamoSpursFan]

The grackles zeroed in on a lawyer who shooed a bird away before he tripped and injured his face, Jue said. The lawyer was treated for several cuts.

And the Grackle of the Year award goes to...

[Sportcamper]

G.R.A.C.K.L.E....
Doing our part to better humanity...One lawyer at a time...

[Guru of Nothing]

Grackles are funny birds. Once, while mowing my yard, I had one follow me around with its mouth open, begging for food.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

"I hit him with a bottle," said Sylvia Velasquez. "The other birds came, and one attacked my blouse and on my back."


Texans.

[Shelly]

All this time I was blaming the squirrels for eating my marigolds. After searching online, I found out that Grackles love them.

Stupid bird.

[Court4Short]

They LOVE McDonalds french fries too.

[Experiment2100]

"I hit him with a bottle," said Sylvia Velasquez. "The other birds came, and one attacked my blouse and on my back."

I need to get a bird that goes after women's blouses.