1. Yes, it's a whole new look! Have questions or need help? Please post your question in the New Forum Questions thread Click the X to the right to dismiss this notice
    Dismiss Notice
  2. Seeing tons of unread posts after the upgrade? See this thread for help. Click the X to the right to dismiss this notice
    Dismiss Notice

Starlings, Grackles, Black Birds...

Discussion in 'Nature/Habitat/Garden Corner' started by KTdid, May 30, 2007.

  1. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2006
    Messages:
    3,430
    Likes Received:
    148
    Anyone? During the springtime I get large flocks of black birds but they eventually go away when the weather warms up. Well this year is an exception. They won't leave and they frighten the other birds away from the feeders. I've been told to stop feeding for several weeks - not a great option during mating season. I don't mind the crows though - I've had a trio visit my yard for the past 3 years. Any advice?

    I also feed hummingbirds and spotted one only around mid-April. I haven't seen any since. Is anyone else experiencing this?
     
  2. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

    Joined:
    May 28, 2005
    Messages:
    2,795
    Likes Received:
    9
    My hummingbirds, while I don't spot them often, must still be coming because my feeder is draining. As for the starlings and grackles, are they in your grass or at your feeder? If they're in your grass I'd suggest you welcome them with open arms because they're eating grubs.
     
  3. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2006
    Messages:
    3,430
    Likes Received:
    148
    Yes, they're on the ground but that's because I also broadcast seed on the ground for the birds that do not typically eat at the feeders.
     
  4. tigercpa

    tigercpa New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2005
    Messages:
    749
    Likes Received:
    0
    Don't feed them things they like (such as mixed bird seed)...trying mixing in a heavy dose of safflower seed into your regular mix, the grackles and starlings don't like it...

    Cardinals love it, but some of your other feeders may not, so you might have to adjust your "blend" via trial and error.

    Suet is a favorite of the "bully birds"...but they don't like to go up and under to eat....
     
  5. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2006
    Messages:
    3,430
    Likes Received:
    148
    I haven't tried the safflower yet but I think I'll give it a try when my sunflower chips run out. As for my suet feeder I have an upside down one to discourage non-clinging birds from feeding there. But over time, they've become little acrobatics and can consume an entire suet brick in one day! The cat birds and wrens also manage to reach the suet feeder with aplomb. The tufted titmouse does equally well...but as I said most of the smaller birds have stayed away because of the Grackles and Starlings. I wonder if putting out a fake owl would scare them away?
     
  6. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

    Joined:
    May 28, 2005
    Messages:
    2,795
    Likes Received:
    9
    Wow... how interesting that your yard is so different from mine. I have NEVER seen a titmouse in my yard, or a chickadee for that matter, and I put out a suet feeder late last fall and the darn thing lasted all winter.
     
  7. Chsalas

    Chsalas Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2003
    Messages:
    1,619
    Likes Received:
    37
    intersting side note on that, I had a family of starlings living in my attic last year. They were getting in and out through a small opening between the roof line and the facia. I called several places to have them removed but, no pest control company would do it. I had to hire these guys from WV, who specialized in pest removal (i.e. skunk, bats, birds,racooons etc..). They chased out the birds from the attic, fixed the facia board, and put a wire mesh around all the openings to ventilation on the over hangs. That cost me $1k.
     
  8. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2006
    Messages:
    3,430
    Likes Received:
    148
    Oh, how I miss the black capped chickadee. They use to show up every morning singing up a storm.

    As for your suet - do you use the soft kind in the winter?
     
  9. Kaosdad

    Kaosdad Will work for Rum

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2005
    Messages:
    2,557
    Likes Received:
    4
    :rant::angryfire:
    Well folks, that's it - I am officially a Grackle :hater:. First, these birds are not "pretty" by any stretch of the imagination. they are dirty, dull, ugly beasts that have trashed my house with droppings as well as every house, fence & deck I can see. Thay made a nest in my gutters and continue to foul my front walk.

    This year, I let them slide - next year, no more Mr. Nice Guy.
     
  10. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2006
    Messages:
    3,430
    Likes Received:
    148
    Welcome to the club. Grackles and Starlings are the gangs of the avian world. I asked a bird enthusiast if I should stop feeding birds altogether for a time and he said it wouldn't matter because the birds would continue checking the yard for food (and) the songbirds would pay the consequence. :(
     
  11. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2006
    Messages:
    3,430
    Likes Received:
    148
    PS. My Hummingbirds have returned. NOW, if I could only figure out how to keep the raccoons from knocking down the feeder. I have to take it in every evening now - but juvenile raccoons come out as early as 4P. My yard is a constant battle.
     

Share This Page