Black Birds!!!!!?????

Put a seperate feeder for them away from the other feeders. Afterall they are simply surviving and looking for food too.

-- Xploreorganics, 5b Canada, LFD 06-20

True… Shotgun is too messy… Feathers everywhere.

Another option is to use an exclusion feeder which is designed to allow only smaller sized birds to feed from it.

You still need to have another feeder for them, however placed away from the other.

I’ve got a wonderful squirrel proof feeder that’s great for preventing large birds from feeding.. Sucks at keeping the squirrels out though.

This is kinda what it looks like. The perch has a spring that holds it in the upright position. When something too heavy perches, it closes.

And here is an exclusion feeder. Again, for squirrels, but the wire is close enough to keep big bird heads out.

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

Are you talking about crows?I myself welcome all critters and birds to my property.I have never seen the crows at my feeders but the “beggers” will tear into a bag of garbage when they can.I always toss out on the ground,old bread or stale baked goods,even bananas and other fruit that is past its prime.They clean it all up,and it seems when they have had their meal,they all leave.They don’t seem to be here alot,but when they are,they are here in huge numbers.
Now when the Blackbirds and Cowbirds come around there seems to be a co-existance at the feeders,all the birds seem to have their turn at the feed.
Sorry not the answer you are looking for,but I find you can’t feed one and not the other.

-- Southwestern Ontario Canada Zone5b

No crows, I call these Black Birds but if you look at them they have a blueish head on them. I guess I can move a feeder to let the other birds in. It is not that I want the Black Birds eradicated I just wnat the little ones to get their fill. As I look out there are a least 40 of the Black Birds hogging out and the little ones are in the trees.

I do have the caged bird feeder, a sunflower seed feeder similiar to the one above, a suet feeder and finally I think it is called a hopper.

So I think that I move the feeders that the black birds are eating out of and I will buy smaller ones for the little guys. I all about siding with the underdog or in this case bird. HAHAA

-- Living on the level... Central Ontario...1.25 hrs from TO.......Zone 5a

Thar be Grackles. Arrr.. Evil little birdies they are. White/Yellow eyes.

As seen in the third picture of this:
http://gardentenders.com/projects/73

Yup.. They’re a pain and can clear a full feeder in no time. They spook easy though.

This is what my yard looks like when they’re in town.. (not my yard though)

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

That’s my yard. Not really but I swear it looks like that right now. When I go out to do something inthe yrad they all take off and the little come out and eat but I can not be out there all the time.

-- Living on the level... Central Ontario...1.25 hrs from TO.......Zone 5a

grackles.. they are fun to watch until they eat all the food in one sitting :)

I put a big feeder out for them.. they can eat til their hearts’ content – or until it is gone. (And I only fill it once in a while)
and then I put little feeders out for the other birds, – short perches that the grackles just can’t seem to manage.

Oh and I also have an “upside down” feeder from my goldfinches so they get a private feeding spot as well.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Ok MsD you have peaked my curiousity.Please tell me what an upside down feeder is.I love the goldfinches as well.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

Perches are above, not below.

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

yup. that’s it.

most birds don’t eat while hanging upside down

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

I’ve got a thistle sock for mine this year. Already had one that I spotted at the feeder. I think I’m going to move it away from the main large feeder since the Grackles are lingering at it.

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

Dog, Bro. They’ll get rid of those seed eaters!

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

Pfft.. You never seen my dogs.

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

Fat and lazy, eh?

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

Thanks for the picture Scott.I don’t think I have ever seen a feeder like this.But I am going to keep my eyes open for one now.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

This sums up my dogs.

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

You named that dog Budreaux, right? LOL!!! That’s one lazy dawg!

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

Actually, he’s Baxter.. Which is close enough. I’ve got 3 Bassets and a mutt.

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

Scott … he’s a cutie!!!!! Oh my …. bet he loves your little guy ….

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

hahah yah.. that’s an adorable pix/dog

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Here’s the other crew.

Christy

Charlotte

Sadie Grace

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

these are great feeders for finches. i have 2 and they are great
http://stores.ebay.com/Mad-Mountain-Bird-Feeders

-- RK

Love your dogs Scott and thanks you all for the bird feeder info. I’m in the market for one or maybe two.

-- blooz 5b - You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt. ~author unkown

Grackles. Darn things

Thy steal other bird’s eggs too

This is a bird I do not like

Seems just one doesn’t show up at a time , a 100 does

They will eat you out of house and home

Take your feeders inside for 2-3 days, They will soon move on.

Your other little birds will remember you tho and come back

-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.

Thanks for everyone response but I have decided to let them eat me out of house and home. After all they are birds and deserve the love like anyother animal. Although my three boys have been trying to run them off, my 13 yr old, 2 and a bit year old and my nine yr old German Sheppard/ Husky cross dog. He maybe nine but still has the energy of a 2yr old.

And besides the little birds Iwas hoping for have migrated up north to a coller climate and hopefully will be back this fall. If I still have the black birds come fall I will broach this subject again and then I will go at them with the same determination Bill Murray had towards the Ground Hog in Caddy Shack.

I tried to post a picture of the three boys but could not figure out how to transfer the image.

-- Living on the level... Central Ontario...1.25 hrs from TO.......Zone 5a

shoot one and hang its dead butt upside down in a tree near the feeder….......works like a Shaman keeping the evil little Bas%$#@ away. shot guns are too loud but a 177 calber or a 22 caliber pellet gun do a good job.

They used to scare us off the deck near the pool, a steady stream of fece on their way to eat the bird feeder dry until I shot one and left the dead bird, it stayed on the pool deck for a month…......my birdfeeder was full of seed and birds for a month, then some one let the dog out and the dog ate the dead bird…..*&%$#@

works like a lucky charm …......

-- Central northish Ontario

lol oh GreenThumb .. you are not shy about voicing your disgust about certain creatures, are you?? !! :)
Sounds like you found a strategy that works for you. I think I’ll stick with minimal feeding for them and delicate feeders for the rest of the birds.
Of course I haven’t been poop-bombed while sitting by the pool.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Well I could be driven to drastic measures if I was “poop-bombed” while sitting, quite frankly anywhere!!! Can you imagine … :-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

GrandmaT …... I’ve heard that its a sign of luck to be “pooped-bombed” ... LOL

-- blooz 5b - You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt. ~author unkown

oh my gosh

this is too funny

poop bombed, ROLSH til I hurt lol,lol

I’ve been there, poop bombed and so has my car almost a daily wash

-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.

Hmmmmm, she says … do I want that kind of luck … LOL!!!!!!

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

oh yes.. the “good luck” of being poop-bombed… kinda like how lucky it is to find a piece of eggshell in your pie or something—the quick superstition made up by the unfortunate person who was the recipient of the “treat” or by the cook who made a boo-boo.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

I’d rather find an egg shell than be bombed.. For that matter, I’d rather find a whole egg shell and have the pleasure of chewing it up with nothing to wash it down.

I’d been bombed before as well. While they were migrating through the area they shacked out in our Pecan tree, which is the tree we put our table under..

Sitting at the table wasn’t such fun anymore.

Hmmmm… Makes me want to erect a few poles around the bird feeder and impale some.. Kinda Vlad the impaler style, ya know? Think that would keep them away.. and keep the dog and small child from being able to poke at the carcass.. ;)

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

Well I laughed this morning … here we are talking about “poop bombing” and what happens … I am sitting on my NEW swing and I hear plop … a bird pooped on the awning over the swing. Sooooo, does this actually count is my question??!!! LOL!!!!

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

You guys are way to funny. I sit in the shadows and laugh my tushie off. Anyway, back to grackles. One way is to slowly change your seed to 100% safflower. Grackles and other unwanted birds won’t touch it but the “perty” birdies will. Just do it by adding in 1/3 to your feeders at a time to get the good birds used to it. Then poof no need for poop bombs!

: )

-- wjl - 5a Indiana

okay … now this is what I am talking about on “What is this site all about” ... what other site do you know that talks about being “poop bombed”!!! ROTFLMAO!!!! I mean really … think about it …. ain’t it great!!!

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Grandma T

lol,lol

I wish I had been there to see this not meaning you any ill harm, lol,lol but I can’t help but laff oh my I am laffin

I would even make your breakfast for you to see and hear this plop

Tee hee hee sorry but this poop bombing topic is just too funny and using my imagination

Oh dear sides hurt

-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.

I got poop bombed by a seagull last summer at the beach.There was 3 of us there and we laughed so hard our cheeks were hurting.They say it’s good luck.Or is that just if a bluebird craps on you????(lol)

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

if you are the unfortunate one to be poop-bombed then you can say anything you want! It’s a horrible situation and you can tag any good luck saying to it that makes you feel a little better about the moment!!
Yes—it’s definitely GOOD LUCK to be poop-bombed by any bird unless of course it is a pterodactyl and that probably isn’t a good thing, no matter how you look at it

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

That’d be one heck of a bomb… ;)

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b