Grackles are rad!

I (Graham Edwards) once swore I would never use a whimsical acronym for a lab. I scientifically matured among planetary scientists, where I saw all sorts of goofy (often forced) acronyms, and I vowed to never be so ridiculous. Yet, here we are, so I feel compelled to explain myself.

A lifelong fan of blackbirds (especially, the red-winged blackbird and common grackle), I instantly fell in love with the great-tailed (or Mexican) grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) when I first visited San Antonio. Our local grackles are inquisitive, active, charismatic, and mischievous. A native species, the great-tailed grackle is probably the most iconic and familiar San Antonio local.

So, as I developed this lab, I wanted to honor the local grackles of southern Texas, and this required a little (overly) creative acronym-smithing. A younger me might have thought this was for the birds, but I suppose that’s exactly the point… 🐦

Grackle Fan Club

This gallery features grackles (up to no good) in San Antonio.

Great-tailed grackle with beak open and feathers ruffled, facing away from camera. Great-tailed grackle walking with purpose across a cement surface. Great-tailed grackle on a rock in a fountain. Great-tailed grackles perched on a streetlamp. Great-tailed grackle mean-mugging the camera next to a flight of stairs. Two great-tailed grackles standing on a patio table. A pigeon enters in the lower left. The ground is stained with bird droppings.
Grackles of San Antonio & beyond! If you’d like to contribute, please send grackles to gedward1 [at] trinity.edu