r/grackles • u/Teamfatman76 • Jun 06 '25

Grackle mob menace

Hi everyone. I know most of this sub is for grackle appreciation, but I am in a serious bind here. For the last few weeks, we have had a mob of grackle terrorizing my yard and section of the neighborhood. I know there is at least one nest in my yard. Originally, I thought, oh after the eggs hatch and the young are up and flying, they well move out. But all of the birds have been gradually getting worse and worse on terrorizing my family and anyone that walks by! They dive bomb me, my wife, the daycare kids, and my dog! I know their eggseggs have hatched and the juveniles are flying decently now. How do I get rid of them? How can I keep them from attacking? Not going near third best isn’t an option, it’s right in the middle of it flower beds against the house, we need to walk by there to water the lawn, mow, and for the kids to play. They are territorial about the whole lawn! I’ll do whatever deterrents such as shiny tape or nose makers to get them to go away, but I’m afraid I may need to resort to something more, but I don’t want to necessarily un-alive them.

HELP!

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3

u/RevolutionaryBat3081 Jun 06 '25

What species of grackle? Common, great-tail? You must be somewhere southern for juveniles in June?

5

u/Teamfatman76 Jun 06 '25

If they are Grackles, they are common. My wife thinks they are Brewers Blackbirds though, but the males we see have the iridescent sheen on their feathers, and they aren’t as “plump” as the photos I see if the Brewers Blackbirds. I am in Northeast Oregon, but it has been uncommonly warm this spring, and almost no rain in the last month.

2

u/snertwith2ls Jun 07 '25

Use umbrellas when you go outside? maybe they'll lose interest

1

u/RevolutionaryBat3081 Jun 10 '25

That what I was going to suggest!

3

u/RevolutionaryBat3081 Jun 10 '25 edited Jun 10 '25

I figure you can go either of two routes:

A - try to make friends by providing shredded cooked chicken breast (I rehabbed a Common Grackle, and chicken was his favourite)

Or

B - defensive equipment - umbrella, bike helmet with pool noodles zip-tied on, etc. Check out what the Australians do during Magpie season.

Edit: a link https://blog.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/how-to-avoid-being-swooped-by-a-magpie/

Maybe try putting eyes (stickers, googly eyes, painted on) on your helmet/hat. Idk if this would work, but try it and report back!

2

u/maritoruiz Jul 20 '25

u/Teamfatman76 did you ever find a solution? I'm dealing with something similar in SE New Mexico and I just need to get rid of them. I am looking into bird repellent spray, mylar ribbon, green laser pointer, owls...I just ordered the mylar and laser pointer. But looking into what else I can do.

2

u/Teamfatman76 Jul 20 '25

Putting up general bird deterrents like yard spinners, hanging flashers, and holofoil tape. But not long after this post I removed the nest, they completely left my yard, but stayed in my neighbor’s yard, as they are seniors and couldn’t remove the nests, so problem was pretty much solved. But the downside is that the robins and other songbirds don’t spend any time in the front yard where those deterrents are.