It was raining, a front had come through. The ground was very wet and the blackbird and robins covered Meadowbrook Park and the golf course across the street. I took many photos and used the photos to sample and come up with a total count. I estimated at least 5000 birds at the time. My sampling count is based on a total of 4000 birds to be more conservative. I both photographed and observed at the time to make sure the numbers of Rusties were there. Based on a combination of single bird counting and % of total birds, I estimated 700 Rusty Blackbirds in the area.