6 replies to this topic

[hbvol]

Common Grackles have descended on my feeder and have been here for the past three days. I have counted only four but they just stay at the feeder from dawn to dusk unless I am standing in the yard. They wiped out an entire new suet cake in about 3 hours this afternoon and are driving all the other birds away even the blue jays. Any suggestions for solving the problem?

[BirdLadyTAS]

hbvol,
I had the same problem and switched to one of the 'upside down' suet feeders with the roofs. Evidently, the grackles decided it was too much trouble to hang onto and didn't stick around. The biggest drawback is that the pileated woodpeckers can't use it either. Good luck!

[JimBob]

I have heard a LOT of good things about upside down suet feeders. And I haven't heard one bad thing. I think I might get one.

[Inzl Kett]

I'll have to look for one of those feeders. I have a serious Grackle problem in my yard too Some days I get a dozen Grackles out there.

[spyonabird]

I bought one of those upside down feeders. Loaded it up with suet and sat and waited....and waited.... and waited. After about a month, I saw a Downy on it once and maybe a chickadee or two. I gave up. Maybe I had too many other choices for the birds - a couple of platform feeders, a hopper feeder, a thistle sock and mealworms. The upside down one did not get much attention.

[hbvol]

I bought one of those upside down feeders. Loaded it up with suet and sat and waited....and waited.... and waited. After about a month, I saw a Downy on it once and maybe a chickadee or two. I gave up. Maybe I had too many other choices for the birds - a couple of platform feeders, a hopper feeder, a thistle sock and mealworms. The upside down one did not get much attention.

Yeah, that was my concern about an upside down feeder. I just didn't put out suet again for about 3 days and that helped. I'm down to only an occasional grackle.

[ColoTomo]

I'll have to look for one of those feeders. I have a serious Grackle problem in my yard too Some days I get a dozen Grackles out there.

I counted 75+ grackles in the yard for my record last year (that I could see, likely 10+ more under the deck, in the trees that I couldn't see from where I was at).

To put a damper on the big flocks, I caged my tray feeder at the end of the season last year and so far it's made a huge difference. The caging does allow a grackle to enter, but they tend to come in one or two at a time. Actually my flickers can squeeze in too. But it keeps the grackles from going really crazy and wiping out the feeders in 10 minutes

Also, limiting the amount of seed that falls on the ground will discourage the grackles, probably just as important or even more so. You can still throw out straight millet for your white crowned sparrows and such (unfortunately attracts house sparrows)

And they don't seem interested in my safflower which the finches and mourning doves love. Unfortunately the collared doves like Safflower too, but I don't have them bad enough to worry about right now