AVONDALE One morning last week, Adam Weisell was out walking his two dogs near where he lives along the Chicago River when something hit him in the head.
I was super freaked out at first because I thought it was a giant bug, like a water bug or cicada, Weisell said.
He was still flying around, Weisell said. I had never heard of that. I thought, That was weird.
Weisell turned around and started to walk away, but, just as he was beginning to process what had happened, the bird struck again.
Then, a day or two later, Weisells wife, Erika Tuttle, was attacked in the same spot, near Roscoe Street and California Avenue.
I was running and it landed on my head like Alfred Hitchcoks The Birds, Tuttle said with a laugh. I was like, Oh my god.
There was a woman running towards me and I was like, Did you see that? And while I said that, it hit me again. Shes like, Im scared!
Weisell and Tuttle are among many Avondale residents who have been attacked by the aggressive bird over the last few weeks. Some have taken to Facebook to express their frustration and confusion.
Red-winged blackbirds are known to swoop down on people and attack during nesting season, which runs roughly from late May through mid-July. They do it in an effort to protect their nests, according to experts.
They dont get aggressive until they are well into the breeding season and have a nest to protect, Josh Engel, ornithologist for the Field Museum, told DNAinfo in 2017.
They are highly territorial, aggressive to almost anything that comes too close, especially things that are bigger than they are and that they see as a threat, including hawks, crows, cats and people.
Beth Kosson, environmental science consultant and DePaul University graduate, dubbed red-winged blackbirds natures aholes. But Shannon Hackett, associate curator of birds at the Field Museum, said we shouldnt take the attacks personally.
Theyre not trying to hurt you. Their goal is get you away from their reproductive output, Hackett said. If it was your baby and these big strangers not anybody you know, this strange species came around, youd be defending your offspring. This is biological fitness.
The birds like marshes, fields and bushes, according to experts. In Chicago, that means theyre most likely to be found in city parks, large vacant lots and along the lake and river. Theyve been known to attack in Lincoln Park and Grant Park, among other places.
Its unclear if complaints are up this year. A spokeswoman for the citys department of animal care and control didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.
Hackett encourages residents to post sightings on eBird.org, a citizen science project with more than 100 million bird sightings reported, and to familiarize themselves with the birds distinctive song.
Theyve probably already dive-bombed you by the time you realize its their song, she said with a laugh.
Ultimately the best way to protect yourself against red-winged blackbirds during nesting season is to stay clear of the nest until the young fledges, Mary Hennen, who works with birds at the Field Museum, said in an email.
If possible, post the trail with caution signs so people have a heads up. If you must pass by, do so quickly and do not linger in the area, Hennen said.
Oh, and dont fight back. The birds are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, meaning you could face fines or jail time for harming them.
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The Mysterious Red-winged Blackbird Chitimacha Native American Folklore
They are associated with some interesting folklore, too. According to Katherine Judsons Myths and Legends of the Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes, published in 1916, the red-winged blackbird came to have its striking red spot because of its gallant nature. Lore has it that once upon a time, a man grew frustrated and tired of his life. In his anger, he decided to set the marsh on fire, thinking he could burn the world that had made him so miserable. A little blackbird saw what was happening and called out to the townspeople. It screamed, The world and all is going to burn! The angry man threw a shell and hit the bird in the wings, causing them to bleed.
The villagers arrived, extinguished the flames, and consumed the prey that the fire had forced from the marsh. In the end, everything worked out well, and the blackbird carried the mark of its noble deed with it forever.
Weisell and Tuttle are just two of the numerous Avondale residents who have been targeted by the hostile bird in recent weeks. Some people have vented their annoyance and confusion on Facebook.
He was still flying around, Weisell said. I had never heard of that. I thought, That was weird. .
The birds like marshes, fields and bushes, according to experts. In Chicago, that means theyre most likely to be found in city parks, large vacant lots and along the lake and river. Theyve been known to attack in Lincoln Park and Grant Park, among other places.
Do stories like this matter to you? Subscribe to Block Club Chicago. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicagos neighborhoods.
AVONDALE Adam Weisell was hit in the head by something last week while out for a morning stroll with his two dogs near his home along the Chicago River.
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