Starlings, Grackles and other Blackbirds.

[Tozman]

One short drive in urban, suburban and rural Southern Ontario will reveal a multitude of these aggressive birds. .

I don't have statistics, but I believe that the populations of these mini-crows is on the increase at the expense of the more desirable species like flycatchers, warblers, finches etc.

I would like to ask you all a few questions:

-Do you agree with me that these bold and aggressive black coloured birds have a negative impact on the numbers of their other more desirable feathered cousins.

- Do you hunt/shoot these birds when you get an opportunity ? In Ontario it's open season all year for these birds with no limits. I have shot a couple, but I am thinking I should do more for numbers control.

- If you shoot them, do you eat them ? Small birds are a delicacy In many Meditteranean countries. Any recipes ?

 

[BBB]

Starlings and Grackles are both introduced non-native species.

I say blast away. Give the bodies to cats or something.

 

[trubluscrew]

- Yes; they chased away my blue jays and robins

- I've taken out 20+ in the last month or so (it's real hard to open the kitchen window and poke the Cooey outside).

-Nope, I use it for Coyote bait

 

[canadian hunter312]

any chance i get i shoot grackles and starlings. been shootin them for the last 8 years so i have no clue how many ive blasted to date but i can tell ya the guns ive used

bb gun
pellet gun
.22 with shorts and LR
.22 with birdshot. sneakup when they are on the opposite side of bird feeder
.22 mag
.223
.243
.303 british
.410 with shot and slugs
20 gauge
12 gauge with everything from 7/8oz loads with cylinder choke to 2 1/4oz #6's with a turkey choke

before any flaming starts, the ones that were shot with rifles or slugs were on the ground

i heard that grackles eat the eggs of other birds but havent bothered researching to see if its true or not.

i EAT the grackles and starlings that i shoot. why? because they taste great! lol. taste almost the exact same as dove so why not? debone the breast meat, season and fry it up. hard gettin people to try it but once they do they love it.

if you can manage to get ahold of a few young blackbirds then you will shoot all kinds of adults because they will come very close to you when the young are squaking. i know its kinda cruel but those ugly birds shouldnt even be around here a recording of a young in distress would work wonders...search the net.

 

[joe-nwt]

You EAT grackles and starlings?

You're weird man.......

 

[kell2784]

Talk about agressive, they dive-bomb anyone that enters my back yard. They are not afraid of my two cats, and annoy my big lab. I own a HW45 air pistol with .177 barrel. It takes care of them nicely and without two much noise inside city limits. Sometimes I switch back to the .22 barrel for fun, (it really punches them out of the trees!)
Highly recommend a HW45!

 

[Redfrog]

birds

Starlings and blackbirds, the other white meat.MMMMM!

Well actually the meat is not white, but it is indeed tasty.

I usually wait till I get 4 and 20 and then I have them baked in a pie.!!

MMMMM! Fit for a king.

Seriously, many years ago when I had the misfortune of living in Windsor, I used to go with buddies in the latter part of August, first part of Sept and shoot the starlings that migrated through that area by the millions.

We would get a few hundred and take them to my Italian buddy's home. His wifre would make a few calls and the yard would fill with women who would pluck the birds while the men sat around drinking wine and telling lies.
when the birds were cleaned they were treated to an olive oil/garlic rub, wrapped in bacon and put on the BBQ.

Ah! Delisioso!!



Just as an aside, As I was writing this, I was trying to think of a number to describe the hoards of these birds that migrated there every year . It reminded of the a news story.

President Bush was advised that 3 Brazillion troops had been killed in Iraq today. The president went pale and at one point actually looked like he was going to collapse. He regained his composure and asked an aide "How many is a brazillion?"