Bird invasion

I don't know what kind they are.... but there were hundreds of them

I just filled these feeders yesterday... they have them 1/2 way empty in less than an hour

one more

They sure like Grackles.

Not crows??

you would know better than me.... but yes it does look like that

these are smaller than the crows around here... but not sure

Grackles have the triangle/diamond shaped tail.

This message was edited Feb 16, 2008 1:47 PM

Yep. Grackles.
Can't miss those bright yellow eyes!

I haven't spotted one yet but they should be arriving soon.

Here's one from last year-

that's them for sure.... they keep coming back to the feeders in waves.... my yorkies are having a good time keeping them in check

Ha! I call them crows too!

crows are much bigger than grackles.
Noisier too.
Martha

Thanks Martha - I really stink at bird ID. 'Grackle' sounds like it would be noisy too!

I hate grackles!
They eat all the seed and the suet, too!!

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

But, the Evening Grosbeaks were quite loud this morning, too ...
and I loved hearing them!!

at the top right of this page there is a link you can click to hear the grackles

http://www.wild-bird-watching.com/Grackles.html

We get plenty of grackles here too, but the ones that really come in waves are starlings. And they are mean to the other birds.

you are not kidding they were beating up everyone even the blue jays

Grackles. I hauled out my trusty Petersen's Field Guide to the Birds East of the Rockies and your second picture is right out of the book {Page 254, 4th edition} This book is a treasure.
What we have here is Quiscalus quiscula or the Common Grackle. It has a huge year round range which has borders in upper NY state and southern NH and VT. The summer or breeding range goes to Canada.
The song you have also matches the one described in PFGB. they are probably so successful because they can clean out a feeder quickly and have adapted to people feeding them over the winter.
Love my Petersen's!
Martha

Love my Petersen's, too.
The 'grands' call it 'Grandma's Bird Book'.
We are always looking up the birds we don't recognize. We even have the pages marked with the dates that we see them each year (the migrating birds, that is). It's turned into a kind of journal.

I have "Petersen's Field Guide Eastern Birds", Fourth Edition.

We were so excited last season when a large flock of Indigos arrived and stayed around all season long. Up until then, I had only seen one in my whole life, and that was well over a decade ago.

This photo was taken on June 8th.

might need to pick up that book... sounds great... thanks

My friend lives 2 towns away. We both have lack of birds this winter. Last year at this time we had 100's. We have not seen. Finches- purple and little green colored ones, grosbeaks, grackles, cow birds, blue jays, or red wing black birds.

We are feeding them the same. The only thing I can think of is that hawk that was stalking the yard.

I have Peterson's and the Audubon books. Use them interchangeably. Peterson's has artist color drawings and Audubon has photos. Together they are very helpful.

I've only seen an Indigo Bunting once in my life, about 17 years ago. They're not common to my area.

I've got audubon too, I just like the drawings better.
Martha

Sherrie:

We've seen them all this winter!!
And, they are hungry little beasts.

amazing how aggressive they are

Like I stated - we have lack of birds this year. We don't know what we are doing wrong. Last year they would wipe the seeds out in a day. Maybe they are not hungry?

cleaning up after the carnage

saw three of these guys... two flew away when I went up to the window

Last year I had hardly any birds. This year they've been plentiful. Except for the past few weeks - not so many.

Evasion not intrusion. Like this forum. Where did everyone go?

I'm pretty sure they're Grackles...they'll clean out your feeder as fast as you can fill it!!

HomersMom.... Are you new here? If so welcome to our home. If your not new here - I am a ditzy blonde. Sherrie.

hi! welcome!
amy
*
(the squirrels clean out our feeder faster than the grackles...)

I am New~Hi Sherrie, Hi Amy~
Actually, the squirrels like to seem to like to chew the feeder just as much as eat all the seeds! I don't know how many times I've had to replace a feeder because the squirrels ate it. Is there really a squirrel-proof feeder??

Hi H.Mom!
I buy cheap feeders, but put them on a decent pole with squirrel baffle from Wild Birds, Ltd. Never had a problem, even though I have "millions" of squirrels around. I think the three cats keep most of them at bay.

I sprinkle seeds on the ground under the feeder for the ground feeders (naturally!), and 2 or 3 squirrels come to eat some of these.

Welcome HM! I have two squirrel-proof feeders. One has springs that close the doors to the food when anything heavy, including large birds, gets on it. The other one is a caged tube type.

Victor

Welcome HomersMom! You have "squirrel proof" feeders and they STILL chew them and get the seeds? I have a spring activated feeder and my squirrel hasn't figured it out yet. No grackles, either.

My name's Harper.

Yes there is squirrel proof feeders. A certian metal smooth post. That way they can't get their claws in and climb.

LOL Everyone,
I swear I've tried them all, I even greased my post with lard mixed with cayenne pepper. It worked for awhile and the squirrels were funny to watch trying to get the hot stuff off their paws!!

I'm Barbara