Great-Tailed Grackle

Gallery: AvianPosted October 3, 2012270 views8 comments

I have never seen these around here before. Now, this *#$%* thing and 10 of it's friends have taken up residence in a palm right outside my bedroom window and awaken me every dawn with their very unpleasant vocalizations.
Any ideas how to get them to move on? (Seriously.. )

D300s
500mm
Subject dist: 15.0m
1/3200 sec, f/4
Mode: Manual
Metering: Spot
ISO: 500
White balance: Auto
Flash: Off

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on October 3, 2012 at 6:10 AM

Once the grackles start migrating they make sure any birdfeeder is empty and then they leave. Like most birds they are very fickle... no food no birds. Nice grackle image by the way and well as perch and light.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on October 3, 2012 at 9:15 AM

Try a BB gun?

Patricia's idea is probably the more correct. If you miss them when they are gone, frame this good photo and put it on your bedroom wall, LOL!

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on October 3, 2012 at 11:07 AM

When we moved to Phoenix in 1994 we would rarely see Great-tailed Grackles away from the cattle fed lots but they have been constantly expanding their territory. They started showing up in our neighborhood and yard about 4-5 years ago when other birds would be setting up for nesting. They are very aggressive and opportunistic and no small bird (like a quail chick) is safe when they are around. I've seen them take chicks in the yard and I saw one chase a House Sparrow until it caught it.

We've been told that prefer places with bird baths and water features and to get rid of them it was suggested that we shut down both of those in our yard but the other birds rely on them so much that we haven't. THe grackles around us foul our birdbath with large hunks of bread they are finding elsewhere and bringing to our place.

I wish there was a reasonable solution to them as well.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Barb Pflaum on October 3, 2012 at 6:40 PM

Beautiful early morning light. Nice perch and bg. Well done.

Registered on January 14, 2009, 316 Posts, 2724 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on October 3, 2012 at 9:05 PM

Oh Grackles. Once, during my first year of photography, I was trying to photograph Baltimore Orioles during the spring migration and the grackles were all over the oranges that had been put out. I chunked a rock at it and got caught and roundly chastised by a birder. Ackkk. (Missed the bird anyway)

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 4, 2012 at 7:57 PM

Sandy, I like the golden light and open bill. Do wish for more detail up front. Can't help you with your problem though...

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on October 5, 2012 at 1:50 PM

A dramatic range expansion over the last decade or so. Nice photo. Can't help with the problem, though.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on October 5, 2012 at 7:09 PM

I think I have found a use for the small firecrackers left over from the 4th. I won't hurt them (or anything) but I want them GONE.
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments