There's Something Interesting About Every Bird

Most people have a list of their favorite birds that they like to see around their backyard.

Seldom will you hear blackbirds (starlings and grackles) and pigeons mentioned as favorites. However, these "other" birds have interesting histories and behaviors, too.

Blackbirds (Starlings and Grackles)

European Starlings were introduced to North America in 1891 by an organization that wanted all of the birds ever mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare to also be present in the New World.

Starlings are colorful birds and excellent mimcs, recreating various noises, such as other birds’ calls and songs, as well as any other inanimate or man-made noises they may hear. They can mimic them almost perfectly.

Since their introduction, starling populations have grown to over 200 million birds. Starlings have a significant impact on our native birds. Their intense competition for nesting cavities has negatively impacted many cavity-nesting species, such as bluebirds and woodpeckers.

Like starlings, grackles are flocking birds and will devour large amounts of food in a short period of time.

Grackles have strong jaw muscles able to crack open chestnuts, beechnuts and acorns in their bill. They are also known to saw acorns and dried corn into smaller pieces using the sharp keel of a horny plate on the bill.

Pigeons

Pigeons are believed to be the first domesticated bird. Evidence suggests that people were raising them in the Middle East as early as 4500 B.C. European settlers originally brought pigeons to North America in the early 17th century.

Capable of consuming copious amounts of food in one sitting, pigeons are large birds that often intimidate and frighten off most preferred backyard bird feeding visitors.

Whether you have a few of these "other" birds at your feeders or great masses that descend upon your yard (particularly in late-summer and early-fall), we have a variety of solutions that will help you enjoy all of your birds even more.

Please visit the store or call us to learn more about blackbirds and pigeons and to find out ways to make the most of your backyard.