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Dealing with blackbirds
By Dean A Whitehill Finney County Agent, Agriculture When the birds roost in populated areas, the flocks often are a nuisance and sometimes conflict with human interests. Some birds may depredate agricultural crops, create health hazards, and compete for limited resources with other more favorable wildlife species. In urban and rural home sites they can cause odor, noise, filth and damage to trees, walkways, autos and buildings. In the fall, birds such as grackles, starlings, brown-headed cowbirds and other blackbirds, form flocks to feed and roost. The term blackbird loosely refers to a diverse group of about 10 species of North American birds that belong to the subfamily Icterinae. According to K-State Wildlife Damage Control Specialist, Charles Lee, only three species of birds in Kansas are not protected by law. The English sparrow and starlings are considered nuisance and exotic species as they have been introduced to this country and lastly the feral (wild) pigeons (rock doves) which are highly dependent on humans to provide them with food and sites for roosting, loafing, and nesting. All other birds fall into specific federally protected categories such as, but not inconclusive: migratory, upland game, waterfowl, or raptors. Other species of blackbirds are native migratory birds, and thus come under the jurisdiction of the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, a formal treaty with Canada and Mexico. Thus when I receive nuisance questions concerning starlings, sparrows or pigeons, my recommendations may be different than for any of the protected species. When addressing starling control, one must also be careful that other protected blackbirds are not included within the flock. Also, many cities ordinances will dictate what, if any, control measures can be used. Which leaves only two general approaches to dispersing bird concentrations: (1) environmental or habitat modifications that either exclude or repel birds or make an area less attractive; and (2) the use of frightening devices. If bird flocks appear to be preparing to roost in a tree during the evening hours, make loud noises to disturb them and scare them away. The earlier this is done, the more effective it will be. When a flock has been roosting in a tree for a long time, it may take three or more consecutive evenings of scaring the birds to get them to leave. Start harassing them when they begin to arrive and continue doing so periodically until full dark. For long-term solutions to these problems, eliminate attractive roosting places where bird roosts are occurring. Dense groves of overcrowded young trees provide great roosts, so thin about one-third of the trees to disperse roosting flocks and make the area less appealing as a roost. Thinning the overcrowded trees will improve the remaining tree stand. Large trees with thick side branches give birds a nice place to settle. To remove a roosting flock and discourage it from returning, thin the side branches or have a professional do so. However, be sure to leave the top of the tree intact, both to preserve the quality of the tree and because the side branches will grow back even thicker if the top is thinned. Useful frightening devices include broadcasted alarm and distress calls, pyrotechnics, exploders and miscellaneous auditory and visual frightening devices such as brightly colored balloons, fake owls or shiny objects hung from tree branches. Again, be knowledgeable of city ordinances! Also, give them credit, birds are quite intelligent; the same old fake owl sitting in the same spot, night after night, soon becomes just that: Fake! Moving and alternating the devices may improve the scare tactic. Wildlife specialists point out that the keys to successful bird dispersals are: timing, persistence, organization and diversity. In short, become aware of timing (birds are much more apt to leave a roost site that they have occupied for a brief period of time than one that they have used for many nights); be persistent (repeated and concerted efforts to let the birds know they are not welcome, do not skip a night); get organized (one person or resident may not have lasting impact, but a neighborhood game-plan may); and use diversity (use different and combined techniques to modify the environment and frighten the nuisance birds. Controlling nuisance blackbirds is not easy, but knowing the laws and recommended techniques will make any effort more successful. Date: 11/1/07
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