That Time One KY Town Became an Alfred Hitchcock Movie
Every time I see a big, creepy old house--even if it doesn't look like the one in question--I always think, "I wonder if Norman Bates is in there." No, not every big, creepy old house looks like the one from Alfred Hitchcock's immortal classic Psycho, but that might be the creepiest home in movie history. I'd imagine I'm not the only one who makes that connection.
A similar thing happened recently. I honestly can't remember where I was, but there were two big apartment complexes, and the courtyard between them coupled with how busy all those balconies were reminded me of Hitchcock's Rear Window.
Do you see what the Master of the Macabre has done to us? He's made so many iconic films, they're just there residing in our memory banks waiting for us to be reminded of them in some way.
Blackbird Invasion in LaGrange KY
Several years ago--back in 2012--one Kentucky town had an experience like the ones I've mentioned above, but theirs was far less enjoyable. Let's just say it might be fair to assume that they hope to NEVER see another blackbird again. They only WISHED there were a mere "4 and 20 blackbirds" like in the Old King Cole nursery rhyme. In fact, the swarm was so enormous and frightening, it drew the attention of CNN:
I had to listen Jeannie Moos again. She really did say a THREE-MILE RADIUS of blackbirds in LaGrange KY that day 11 years ago.
But there's actually nothing surprising OR scary about such behavior, said ornithologist Richard Prum when he was asked about a similar event in Mexico. Here's what he told the Associated Press a few months ago:
He said it’s normal for the birds to “aggregate in huge flocks” during the non-breeding season, behavior that’s often seen in the evening as they try to evade predators.
You mean like these starlings which look like they're entered in a synchronized swimming competition?
You know, after watching those starlings, I DO recall seeing something like that in eastern Henderson County not too long ago. But there was nowhere NEAR that kind of volume.
I have a friend who lives in LaGrange; I'll try to remember not to show her this.