Comments on: When Grackles Attack

By: Bruce

Bruce — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:55:53 +0000

A little late to the party here – they’ve been around during December as well; they may have run for it with the deep freeze.

Wikipedia says: This bird is a permanent resident in much of its range. Northern birds migrate in flocks to the southeastern United States.

The Common Grackle forages on the ground, in shallow water or in shrubs; it will steal food from other birds. It is omnivorous, eating insects, minnows, frogs, eggs, berries, seeds, grain and even small birds.

Along with some other species of grackles, the common grackle is known to practice “anting,” rubbing insects on its feathers to apply liquids such as formic acid secreted by the insects.

This bird’s song is particularly harsh, especially when these birds, in a flock, are calling.

The range of this bird expanded west as forests were cleared. In some areas, it is now considered a pest by farmers because of their large numbers and fondness for grain. A large group of grackles is called a plague. Despite a currently robust population, a recent study by the National Audubon Society of data from the Christmas Bird Count indicated that populations had declined by 61% to a population of 73 million from historic highs of over 190 million birds.[1]

By: Jim Warren

Jim Warren — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:32:41 +0000

Seems like I used to see such aggregations almost yearly around this time of year when I lived in Oakhurst.

Maybe a Gracklefest is in order for downtown? Grackeria Del Sol? Little Shop of Grackles? Gouging Grackles of Decatur? Cakes and Grackle?

By: MB

MB — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:27:48 +0000

Near where I used to live over on Sycamore Drive there was a huge holly tree. Apparently a bird announcement went out when the holly berries were ripe, because one day the tree would be full of berries, the next day there would be hundreds, maybe thousands of birds (grackles, red-wing blackbirds and robins, generally) feasting on the berries, and within a day or two there wasn’t a berry to be seen on the tree. I’m guessing this is a similar phenomenon.

By: Renee

Renee — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:10:20 +0000

I observed what looked like thousands of birds by the Ace near North Decatur Road. Not sure if they’re the same ones. But we did spot at least 50 of the aforementioned birds in our tiny Feld Avenue backyard a few weeks back. They were pecking around looking for food. We took the bird feeder out b/c the squirrels kept eating the food and chewed two holes into our attic, where they made a nest.

By: Nelliebelle1197

Nelliebelle1197 — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:14:40 +0000

Or people’s eyeballs.