How to Keep Grackles Off of Your Bird Feeder

In addition to harassing smaller birds at outdoor feeders, grackles can rummage through trash cans and ransack vegetable or fruit gardens. As with other pests, the best way to keep grackles off your property is to cut off their food and water supply. In general, grackles are just pesky visitors, but their physical size and the size of their flocks can occasionally make it difficult to control them. If you are having problems evicting a grackle flock, consult with your local cooperative extension for ideas and support.

Trash cans
Tarp
Vegetable net
Aluminum sheeting
Tin snips
Glue, staples and/or waterproof tape

Instructions

- 1
  Discourage grackles from congregating by keeping your compost and waste bins covered.
- 2
  Remove or cover water sources, such as bird baths and dripping hoses.
- 3
  Replace your current feeder with a caged suet cake model; caged designs can deter large birds, such as grackles.
- 4
  Pick up a conical baffle at most hardware and home supply stores for under $15. Or you can make your own with aluminum sheeting. Cut a 1 1/2-foot round of aluminum with a pair of tin snips. Slit the aluminum from the edge to the center. Remove a 1- to 2-inch circle from the center of the sheet. Hold the sheet by the edge on either side of the slit and push your hands together to overlap the pieces and form the cone. Apply glue, staples and/or waterproof tape to the union to bond it permanently.
- 5
  Slide the baffle onto the pole of your bird feeder so that it slopes toward the ground. If you have a hanging feeder, disconnect the feeder, slide the baffle onto the chain then reattach the feeder.

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