Grackle!

[Michelle Gregoire]

Any tips  on how to discourage a grackle at the feeders? 

[Sean Hatch]

Sometimes I yell at them!

[Helen Rasmussen]

I squirt them with the hose. Same with the starlings. And the pigeons. And the neighborhood cats.

[Julie A. Krasne, DVM]

I'm just curious...since Grackles are birds too, with young to feed this time of year, why discourage them at all?

Just a thought.

Julie Krasne

On Thu, May 21, 2020, 6:31 PM Michelle Gregoire <m4gre...@gmail.com> wrote:

Any tips  on how to discourage a grackle at the feeders? 

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[Ilze Balodis]

Agreed!

Sent from my iPhone

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[Sean Hatch]

Because then that's all you'll have.

[Joel and Sandy Wilcox-Fairbanks]

I've often thought that an enterprising person could do well selling some kind of electronic, remote-operated device that could be attached to feeders, with an arm or something that would swing out when triggered (possibly with a loud noise) to scare off unwanted birds. Any inventors out there?

As for the grackles, I'd probably allow them some food in the spring before shooing them; but would just say no to starlings.

Joel Wilcox

Cherryfield (permanently, we've moved!)

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[David Gulick]

I know a man who worked diligently for years to chase away grackles because they used to drop their egg shells into his pool. 

Sent from my iphone with auto incorrect activated  :-)

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[Thomas Foley]

At the risk of this making me unpopular, I have a suggestion for those of you who put out free food and get upset about who comes to eat it. Save yourself the frustration, save wildlife from getting sprayed by garden hoses, and take down your feeders. If you don’t like the reality of bird feeding, just don’t do it. Grackles, starlings, squirrels, etc. do not deserve to be treated this way just because you don’t think they’re cute.

[Sean Hatch]

Thanks Tom. I've eventually come to this realization. That's why I dont take such drastic measures. My grackles seem to show up in small numbers, then they swell. And by end of May they dont seem to bother my feeders. So I yell at them. I'll do me. You all, can do you.

[Ilze Balodis]

Yes! I am in complete agreement. Thanks for putting into words what I was thinking.

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 23, 2020, at 9:38 AM, Thomas Foley <thomas...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> At the risk of this making me unpopular, I have a suggestion for those of you who put out free food and get upset about who comes to eat it. Save yourself the frustration, save wildlife from getting sprayed by garden hoses, and take down your feeders. If you don’t like the reality of bird feeding, just don’t do it. Grackles, starlings, squirrels, etc. do not deserve to be treated this way just because you don’t think they’re cute.
>

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[Steve Plumb]

I recently saw some advice regarding grackles and suet at the Baltimore Bird Club website. https://baltimorebirdclub.org/by/suet.html

Terry Ross suggests...

Starlings are particularly fond of suet. To discourage them, use a cage that is covered on all sides but the bottom, so that the only birds that will eat the suet will be those that can hang upside down while feeding (this is not a problem for woodpeckers, but it gives starlings the fits).

Squirrels also love suet. You may be able to slow them down by protecting your feeders with baffles. If the squirrels still eat too much suet, take comfort from another old adage, "Render unto squirrels the things that are squirrels'." I know the squirrels believe it.

Hope this helps

Steve

On May 21, 2020, at 6:30 PM, Michelle Gregoire <m4gre...@gmail.com> wrote:

Any tips  on how to discourage a grackle at the feeders? 

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[AMF]

Interesting thread: I put my feeders up when the snow covers the ground
and take them down when the snow is gone.  There is plenty of seeds and
other feed when the ground is open on my farm.  The state recommends
taking the feeders down in the spring to keep the bears out of
neighborhoods as they look for food  We have beehives and threat of
bears is always a concerned.  The only feeder I put up in the summer is
the hummingbird feeders.  I consider putting an orange up for the
Baltimore orioles I have in the area.  I have not never done it. I can
understand that people put feeders out so that they can look at the
birds at the feeders out their windows.  It is a beautiful thing.  It is
also a beautiful thing looking at the birds in their natural
environment.  Have a great and safe weekend.  /Allan