Thousands Of Birds Take Over Edmond Parking Lot

If you've been in the Chic-fil-A parking lot off Broadway and 33rd in Edmond, chances are you noticed the birds.

Tuesday, October 25th 2011, 10:58 pm

By: News 9


Havonnah Johnson, News 9

EDMOND, Oklahoma -- If you've been in the Chic-fil-A parking lot off Broadway and 33rd in Edmond, chances are you noticed the birds.

More than a thousand birds swarm the parking lot starting at sunset until daybreak. So we asked what's up with the birds.

Mark Howery, Wildlife biologist, said the birds migrate cross country every year. By the fall we can always find them in Oklahoma City, but the location of the flock changes annually.

"In the fall they are migrating south in big groups and gather up and roost together at night for safety. They are most like Great Tailed Grackles and European Starlings," Mark Howery said. He also added these fowl are strategic.

"They are surrounded by asphalt, so there is no way for predators to ambush them. There is not going to be a raccoon or a bobcat coming in here at night and if a predator does show up you have all of the parking lot lights," Howery said.

Shoppers have noticed that the parking lot is prime real estate for the birds as well.

"They will get on the high line wires. Sometimes they will stand sentry up there, it is pretty amazing," Dee Wagoner said.

To see the flock you have to be a night owl.

"An hour before dark, we will just see them start funneling in here, and the numbers will just build and build. They are taking advantage of the daylight to eat," Howery said.

According to Howery, the birds aren't aggressive and this breed does not carry any diseases that could harm humans.

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