Discussions

Living in Riverheights park area trying to attract some nice songbirds to the yard, yes Sheldon the sparrow your welcome too! However it is all for nothing as the blackbirds sometimes as many as 15 to 20 of them scare everyone away . Have googled and done research but nothing seems to work . Hanging shiny objects making loud noises means nothing to them it's a game . They patrol in packs every morning and every evening scaring any other birds away . Not to mention the eat all the food out of both birdfeeders . So unless someone out there has a politically correct way of getting rid of them I'm going to have to take some tougher measures to let's say eliminate them.

I don't have any suggestions as to scare tactics, but maybe a different feeder. A squirrel-proof feeder can be set so that squirrels and other heavier birds tip it and can't get the food.  
 
http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/page.aspx?p=48756&cat=2107193306848756  

They are grackles. They do nothing but chase away the nice song birds. My grandparents have them at their farm and we take care of them with a 20 gauge. I know you cannot do that in the city but that's about the only way to get rid of them is to exterminate them.  

I had a nice pair of robins pick my downspout as a nesting spot, and I really enjoyed seeing the whole brooding sequence especially seeing the little minions leave the nest and was pleasantly surprised how calm they were around me.  
 
I made the mistake of knocking the nest down after the chicks left thinking they were done for the season, but I got a real earful from the parents and they had the nest rebuilt within 2 days and were starting a second brood when the blackbirds appeared.  
 
The nest now appears abandoned and I assume the blackbirds raided the eggs, I will admit buying a low velocity pellet rifle crossed my mind, but it's just not worth the risk  
 

I realize you want to have more birds come to your feeders but only I feed the birds in the winter and spring when they really need the food. I am sorry you have so many blackbirds. Grackles and Red winged black birds are the worst for keeping other birds away. I had the same problem in the spring when all the birds come back in the spring. I take my feeders down after I see the bugs and new growth in springtime. I do however put up hummingbird feeders but only with a sugar water solution that I make and not the red powdered stuff they sell at the stores. I heard the red dye in it is not good for them. Happy Birding to you!  
 
 
 
Edited by CarolynJ, 2015-07-05 21:20:19

We have a big crow that patrols the walkway area on Victoria Avenue between Fotheringham drive and Victoria Woods apartments.  
 
He has been picking off various types of birds every day. I don't know what type of birds he is getting but every morning my bird bath is full of bird parts with some legs being quite large. He eats these birds then has a drink and washes his mouth out in my bird bath. I have finally had to stop putting water in it as was getting tired of cleaning it out. So if we could get him to move a couple of blocks north to Riverheights park he could clean things up pretty quick as graccles would be no problem for him.  
 
P.S. this crow has been doing this about 3 years now so I guess he likes the area as he is back every spring.  
 
Edited by Reggie 2, 2015-07-05 22:30:09

Are there enough bird houses and/or trees for the song birds. I have both in my yard, only problem I have is how much bird seed they eat ( $ ) lol

I will trade you some magpies for your blackbirds. Better yet, give me your blackbirds and they can chase away our magpies! LOL

Reggie 2 said "We have a big crow that patrols the walkway area on Victoria Avenue between Fotheringham drive and Victoria Woods apartments.     He has been picking off various types of birds every day. I don't know what type of birds he is getting but every morning my bird bath is full of bird parts with some legs being quite large. He eats these birds then has a drink and washes his mouth out in my bird bath. I have finally had to stop putting water in it as was getting tired of cleaning it out. So if we could get him to move a couple of blocks north to Riverheights park he could clean things up pretty quick as graccles would be no problem for him.     P.S. this crow has been doing this about 3 years now so I guess he likes the area as he is back every spring.     Edited by Reggie 2, 2015-07-05 22:30:09"

It's a Raven you have and not a crow. Just wondering because you said it was a big crow. Crows are pretty much the same size as the next one. Ravens are very similar but much bigger. I have seen Ravens attack pigeons downtown.

Yeah, there's lots of ravens in Riverheights right now too, past couple of years. The mourning doves and blue jays seem to be the only ones that hold their own with them.