Backyard Birding Forum

Are these Grackles? I have been having issues with large flocks of 40-50 of these at a time and they bogart all the suet and both seed bird feeders. Also I find these to be very aggressive birds and they scare away the birds I want to see. Sorry for the poor photos. Any input is welcome.

Yes, those are grackles. I have no idea how to get rid of them. I have the same problem but I kindof like watching them. They are strange the way they hop around. They are great for cleaning up old bread that I throw out the window.
But they do have a way of emptying a feeder. I have noticed they can't seem to get on any of the perching feeders - only tray feeders.
I haven't noticed them on my suet but I have it hanging off a hook from the deck and they don't seem to get too close to the house like the other birds.

i have the same problem.  more so approx a month ago, but it seems like the majority of them might have gone elsewhere recently.

yeah.  i'm not sure if there's really a way to get rid of them whilst keeping the bird you want to have around.  they are dominant and very smart.

Guys, I solved my own brown-headed cowbird and grackle invasion by repalcing my feeders with the saucer type receptacle to limited access feeders with ports where birds have to reach in and get one seed at a time rather than raking the seed out of the saucer part with their beaks to the ground for the flock. Seed disappears quickly like this. Purple grackles and cowbirds can't take the frustration of "one seed at a time" and dissapear. Mine did in less than a few days, and I live in an open, rural area where thousands are sighted, but I feed none of them, and use much less black-oil seed. These things are design genius!

Blessed, and in His grip, Dan Brown (not the author dude!)

awesome!  can you post a picture?

Gil, I got mine at WalMart, but they are made by a company in Arkansas called First Nature. I don't think that they were aware of the seed savings due to the frustration of nuisance birds 'til I brought it to their attention in an email praising their design genius. (they sent me a free one) They also make a very cool hanging bird waterer. These feeders work with mixed seed (which I detest), black oil and niger thistle. I love these things! There are 4 colors and two models, one looks like a lantern and the other sort of like a top of a temple in the Middle East.

Their feeder page is at: http://www.firstnature.net/birdfeeder/product_seedselectorfeeder.phtml

And at $28.99 for 50 pounds of Black oil sunflower around here, I can use the savings!

Blessed, and in His grip, Dan Brown

thanks, Dan.

i'll have to bear this in mind for the next feeder i buy.