It’s That Time of Year – City of Grand Rapids Warns About ‘Aggressive’ Birds
Watch your skulls!
It's the time of year when a certain kind of bird can get VERY aggressive.
City of Grand Rapids Warns of Aggressive Red-Winged Blackbirds
From late May to mid-July, Red-Winged Blackbirds are nesting and can get aggressive protecting their territories. Be careful not to disturb them or they may swoop and squawk.
Here are some tips from the City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation department to avoid the birds' "wrath":
• Give plenty of distance between yourself and the nest whenever possible.
• Take an alternate route.
• Wear a hat when walking through a nesting area.
• Keep in mind that when we're in parks, we're sharing territory with wildlife.
Where are Red-Winged Blackbirds in Grand Rapids?
Red-winged Black Birds frequently nest along the Grand River in Canal Park and Sixth Street Park in Grand Rapids.
Is There a History of Red-Winged Blackbirds Attacking in Michigan?
Yes! In fact, one Michigan pool was shut down recently due to Red-winged Blackbirds.
The City of Grand Rapids has warned residents about the birds in years past as well. You can check out some Grand Rapidians complaints about the birds here.
Here's a video from WZZM-13 a few years ago on the bird attacks downtown GR:
If you want to learn more about Red-winged Blackbirds, the Lincoln Zoo in Chicago wrote a Question and Answer piece about them.