Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Switching to striped sunflower seeds may also deter other birds that may be unwel-
come feeder visitors, such as European Starlings and House Sparrows. These invasive
species were brought to America from Europe. They nest in cavities but cannot excavate
them themselves, so they take them from woodpeckers, bluebirds, and other vulnerable
native species. It's best to avoid subsidizing starlings and House Sparrows if you can.
GOOD-FOR-SOMETHING GRACKLES
Great-tailed Grackles
are abundant and noisy, so they are generally considered
nuisances in their range. But I will always have a soft spot for them. One morning when
I was birding in Las Vegas with my first baby, I set him in his car seat on a picnic
table in a city park while I scanned nearby trees. The Great-tailed Grackles were court-
ing, which means they were making loud, bizarre whistles, rattles, and a variety of other
cool noises. Joey giggled and cooed, happily engaged and entertained for more than 45
minutes while I looked at a variety of other birds I'd never have been able to enjoy but
for those grackles.
Q My friend has a 40-foot pond with ducks in a rural setting in Arizona. She has a
problem with a large population of grackles. Their noise and mess are driving her
nuts. She wants to know what to do to get them to leave the area.
A
Remember the line from the movie
Field of Dreams
, “If you build it, they will come”?
In the case of Great-tailed Grackles in Arizona, if you provide water, they will come.
Thesebirdsaresowelladaptedtourban,suburban,andruralareaswithhumanhabitation
that once they colonize an area, they are very difficult to disperse. No matter what your
friend does to discourage them, she may lose all her other birds before the grackles take
the hint.
Tell her to make sure she's not subsidizing them with food (all her feeders should be
a type that excludes large birds), but if there are good supplies of natural food, she may
simply be stuck. A simple solution if she happens to have a dog who chases birds and the
time and patience to be vigilant for a few weeks: let the dog out to scare off the grackles
whenever they make an appearance.
Q Can you name one good thing about pigeons?
A
Pigeons came to America with early settlers, who brought them from Britain and
Europe for food and sport. Pigeons have saved human lives by carrying critical messages
during emergencies and wartime. One English hospital uses pigeons to transport blood
samples to its laboratory across town, saving money and avoiding traffic jams.
