Lake Umbagog.
1909.
June 8 [June 8, 1909]
(No 2)
  The Bronzed Grackles which are nesting on my island are
interesting birds to watch. They are evidently keen-witted
and observing and full of resources in the matter of
obtaining food. When we first came here on June 4 they
foraged chiefly in the farming lands on Upton Hill. During
the past two or three days they have given most of
their attention to the lake shores which the falling winter
is fast laying bare in many places. Nearly all the members
of the colony spent the greater part of to-day on the
floating logs & drift wood in Stony Brook Cove directly to 
the leeward of our house boat. I was puzzled at first
to understand what they could be getting there until 
Gilbert suggested that they might be attracted by various
kinds of refuse food which he had thrown overboard early
in the morning. On watching them closely through my
glass I found that this may the case. I saw them
inspect & pick at some orange peel and seize & devour
pieces of bread. For a time they confined their attention to
food that had reached the shore but while we were at dinner
and during much of the afternoon they were hovering over
the water not far from the boat & inspecting whatever
acceptable morsels are sent that way. I broke up several
crackers with small fragments & cast them on the water.
When the wind had drifted them a few rods ten or a dozen
Grackles collected over them like so many Gulls or Fish Crows,
hovering with dangling legs just above the surface and picking
up the pieces rapidly & easily, just leveling the water with
their feet but invariably taking the morsel in their bills.
As they started to fly to shore they drew their feet up under
the body plumage in front about at the rear end of the stream.
This I saw distantly a dozen times or more. Some of
Breeding
colony of
Browned
Grackles
Feasting on
refuse food
from our
house boat
Picking up
floating 
pieces of
bread etc.