Date: 11/15/25 7:43 pm From: Derek Hill <derek.jackson.hill...> Subject: [Ohio-birds] Awesome blackbird roost Richland County
Finally checked out a substantial blackbird roost this evening Saturday 15 Nov. in Mansfield, Richland County. Had glimpsed the afternoon spectacle from afar a couple times, as the birds fly in before dusk, sounding like a roaring train. Apparently numbers have dwindled a bit since we first noticed the birds in early/mid October. Still, there must have been at least tens of thousands of birds today, intially staging in treetops when I arrived around 4:30pm. By about 5:00pm they began dropping into the Phragmites reeds, as light was getting too low for much photography or scope detail.
Today when I finally came with binocs and scope, the bulk of the numbers appeared to be Common Grackles with European Starling being 2nd most numerous. Definitely some Red-winged Blackbirds mixed in, a handful of Brown-headed Cowbirds, and my hopes of picking out Rusty Blackbird was rewarded with a few picked out in the scope as they moved in to perch in the trees right over my observation spot. RUBL was a scarce and sought after species in North Central TX where I grew up and is always a thrill to see IMHO. Initially tried to focus on scanning the treetops for a bright female - still not easy when they initially stuck to the trees on the far side of the wetland, and very windy conditons blowing the scope around. So when they came in closer, spotted a couple of the bright fairer sex, with some adjacent males with subtle rust scalloped edges. Certainly more mixed in with the throngs of 'black birds'. Pale eyes visible at close range but surprisingly hard to detect in low light on a very windy cloudy day.
This marsh is adjacent to new houses being built in this neighborhood, north of Straub Rd, south of Logan Rd, just west of S. Main St. Access was via Brushwood Drive (from S. Main St., and the still-undeveloped plots along Elderberry Drive. The marsh is quite obvious from Elderberry Drive, looking north and west. It is not a Typha wetland, but dominated by Phragmites. I am curious to look closer soon at this grass, to see if it's the native 'americanus' type. It doesn't seem as tall as some of the invasive can grow, and I suspect this wetland has provided very valuable seasonal roosting habitat for our dwindling blackbird species (ie COGR and RUBL) for countless generations. Much of the surrounding wetland and woody thickets have been recently destroyed to make way for new housing off Straub Rd (Cape Cod Dr. on google maps).
I wouldnt be surprised if actual peak numbers of birds roosting here throughout the fall could be in the 6 digits but they're hard to count. Its got to be in the tens of thousands as of today, so a very important and valuable wetland. Enjoy the blackbird spectacle while you can, before all the new houses are built.
Wonder how long these birds will stick around this fall... and if the Phragmites is of the native variety - the blackbirds sure are relying on it. Keep in mind a big marsh like this is extremely valuable as safe roosting habitat for the rapidly declining COGR and RUBL - two wetland-dependent species.
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