Grackle and Starlings

[Guest]

This is an interesting observation that I have made at my location this year that I wanted to share with everyone. If this has been talked about in the past, I apologize but I did search the archives and could not find anything about this.

Two days ago, I caught a starling in my S&S controller. The interesting thing about this is that I happened to be working in the yard when this happened. Anyone that has had an S&S controller for any length of time and has been successful at catching starlings in them knows that there is a telltale sound you hear as one is sliding down the 10' pvc tube and landing in the cage at the bottom. I have heard this sound twice this year, It reminds me of the sound the long tubes at the bank drive throughs make. Well, as I heard this, I turned around and watched the starling hit the bottom of the cage. Within 20 seconds of the starling being in there, two grackles flew down to the cage and started pecking at the starling THROUGH THE CAGE with their beaks and scolding it! They appeared to be very agitated that the starling was there. After watching this activity for some time, I noticed the birds fly up into one of my neighbors trees where I believe they have a nest.

Could it be that one of the starlings enemies is a grackle? I then realized that I have only caught 5 starlings in my trap since March this year. Last year by this time, I had disposed of dozens of starlings. Could the reduction of starlings in my yard be because of the grackles nest too?

I consulted with Ron Seekamp and he told me of a similar incident that he had in April of 1989 at his location. The grackle's were also nesting in a spruce tree in his yard and every time a starling would come around and land on a PM house, the grackles would drive them away! His theory is that these grackles must have had experience with starlings robbing their nests. He also noted that during the year of their nesting, the grackles NEVER bothered any of his martins.

Now if this is true, this might be a natural way for pm landlords to keep starlings away from their housing. This still doesn't take care of the disposal of these aliens, but it would make for a happier colony!

[Guest]

There may be something to this . I have been feeding wild birds for the past three years ,year round. I have lots of grackles that come to the feeder on a regular basis. I have not ever seen a starling close by but there are many in the vicinity.

dick

[Donna - TX]

I have lots of grackles but no starlings, maybe that?s why. I also like the grackles because they flush the hawks out of the trees. Whenever you see the grackles circling a tree and making lots of noise it?s a hawk hiding in the trees, all the birds around join in including the martins.

Thanks for sharing.

[Guss P O'Brien]

Where I work there are huge flocks of roosting grackles especially in the winter. I have noticed say 10% starlings mixed in with the flocks of grackles and there seems no conflict. During the breeding season, it could change. The birds are attracted to the warmth of the plant at night. Can't blame them.

[stan davison]

I live in a part of Tulsa Ok that has enourmous trees and with them brings lots of hawks, owls and such. However we also have hundreds of grackles it seems and i am quite thankful for them. Not only do they keep the crows in check they also run off hawks and keep all the other birds on their toes. Bluejays are great too. I