In a field full of cattails, this male Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) at Huntley Meadows Park chose to perch on a man-made structure, a weather-monitoring station.
I really like the juxtaposition of the natural and industrial elements in the simple composition of this image and its limited palette of colors.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Hi Mike – we have 20 acres of woods, open land and a pond, but the Bluebirds and Tree Swallows prefer OUR weather station as a perch, too!!!
It seems like early in the season, the blackbirds here prefer higher perches (e.g., bare trees, phone poles) to screech out what they intend to be theirs. There are a few birds calling out in the marshes, but just as many calling from tree branches. I wonder if those are the more timid (or younger) males?
It’s a mystery to me why they choose such places to perch. I’d think the smooth metal would neither provide much of a secure surface nor be very comfortable. But who knows? Maybe that particular vantage point was worth it.
I see them in tree tops a lot here.
When there is a bit flock of them, the Red-winged Blackbirds will perch almost anywhere, must mostly I see the perched on cattails.