"The Birds," Houston Style

WSUCougar · 05-18-2005, 11:08 AM

Swooping grackles attack Houston residents

From CNN.com:

Quote:

'This is a very Hitchcock kind of story'
Wednesday, May 18, 2005 Posted: 9:43 AM EDT (1343 GMT)

HOUSTON, Texas (AP) -- Like a scene from the horror movie "The Birds," large black grackles are swooping down on downtown Houston and attacking people's heads, hair and backs.

Authorities closed off a sidewalk after the aggressive birds, which can have 2-foot wingspans, flew out of magnolia trees Monday in front of the County Administration Building.

"They were just going crazy," said constable Wilbert Jue, who works at the building. "They were attacking everybody that walked by."

The grackles zeroed in on a lawyer who shooed a bird away before he tripped and injured his face, Jue said. The lawyer was treated for several cuts.

It appears that the birds are protecting their offspring. On Monday a young grackle had fallen out of its nest and adult birds attacked people who got too close, Jue said.

Another bird attacked a deputy county clerk.

"I hit him with a bottle," said Sylvia Velasquez. "The other birds came, and one attacked my blouse and on my back."

Two women came to help her after she fell to the ground, and the birds attacked them as well. The group escaped by running into the building.

"This is a very Hitchcock kind of story. Very Tippi Hedren," said downtown worker Laura Aranda Smith, referring to one of the stars of Alfred Hitchcock's move "The Birds."

QuikSand · 05-18-2005, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grackle

Fucking lawyers.

.

sportsfan13 · 05-18-2005, 11:44 AM

So, who do you think the lawyer is going to sue first in this situation? The bird, the sidewalk, his suitcase (for failing to break his fall), the state of Texas, the city of Houston, or his own feet for tripping??? So many options....

I'm also thinking he could sue his parents for not helping him gain enough coordination to keep him from tripping....

sterlingice · 05-18-2005, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Quote:

Originally Posted by grackles

fucking lawyers

Awesome.

I think this is some shoddy journalism. I bet they left out that the lawyer was wearing a Cardinals hat or something

SI

WSUCougar · 05-18-2005, 12:52 PM

Watch out, SI...those grackles know where you live.

And they're watching you.

05-18-2005, 11:44 AM	#3
sportsfan13 H.S. Freshman Team Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cleveland	So, who do you think the lawyer is going to sue first in this situation? The bird, the sidewalk, his suitcase (for failing to break his fall), the state of Texas, the city of Houston, or his own feet for tripping??? So many options.... I'm also thinking he could sue his parents for not helping him gain enough coordination to keep him from tripping.... Last edited by sportsfan13 : 05-18-2005 at 11:45 AM.

05-18-2005, 12:52 PM	#5
WSUCougar Rider Of Rohan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Port Angeles, WA or Helm's Deep	Watch out, SI...those grackles know where you live. And they're watching you. __________________ It's not the years...it's the mileage.

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