[mou] Where are the female Red-Winged Blackbirds?

[jtanamachi at comcast.net]

The males get back first to claim and hold prime nesting sites. The females and last year's young make a more leisurely trip back but they aren't too far behind. Dr. Zink's Intro to Ornithology class at our own University of Minnesota has used study of RWBB migration as a student project. (My daughter took the class a few years ago and I went out to Richfield's Wood Lake Nature Center with her to observe the birds weekly during spring semester.) This common bird is quite interesting to study. As I recall, the eggs laid by the female of a pair will often show that she has been associating with the males of neighboring territories when genetic studies are done. 

Jeanne Tanamachi
Lauderdale MN
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Todd Merefield <tjmerf74 at hotmail.com>
> 
> I am curious if anyone knows why I do not see any female Red-Winged Blackbirds.  
> I have dozens of males mixed with Common Grackles in my backyard.  Is it 
> possible the females have not migrated north yet?  Or are they already 
> incubating eggs perhaps?  I am in Anoka County.  
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