Back in Georgia in junior high school they had a larger buckskin and black colored bird we called a Grackle. They would come in masses and chase all other birds away and decimate the backyard feeder. When I was home "sick" and bored (both parents working) I would amuse myself taking pot shots at them out the sliding door with my Wrist Rocket and marbles. Didn't matter if you missed, they always came right back!
Grackles are deceptively colored. In some light, they almost look like a blackbird, or even a young crow. In other light, you can see the iridescent sheen of the feathers. Females are mostly brownish because they have less sheen, but can still be somewhat colorful when the sun hits them just right. Although they can decimate a bird feeder, they are also veracious hunters of insects and are opportunistic feeders - eating just about anything that presents itself. At least they are native birds, so they aren't all "bad" (if that is what you want to call them). There are also a couple of different kinds of grackles (the pictures I took from the All About Birds website are all of the Common Grackle, scroll down just a little on the page and they show others)
I always like seeing them in full sun as it shows the iridescence in all its glory. Other than that flock we seldom see a blackbird at the feeder.
A couple of Northern Flickers have been visiting my feeders lately. The picture is taken with a Birdfy Cam I have mounted that is attached to a solar panel.
Great pic. Rarely do they come to the suet when I have it out. Usually I see them on the ground foraging for ants. Does the camera only take pics or have a live feed? To a TV or cell phone?
The camera has a live feed and you can take still pictures. The pictures look a lot better on my phone using the app. I'm thinking because I don't do a subscription that when I download them the quality suffers. TBH, I like the Birdy cam. It's hooked up to a solar panel or you can recharge the batteries, but you have to take it down for that. Other than a few minor connection issues now and then it's pretty much set and forget. It is limited to being in range of your wifi for using it wireless and every so often I need to sign back in because it will disconnect, which are the connection issues I have. It also has a micro sd card if you don't or can't use it wireless. Link to my set up, Birdfy Cam - Motion Detection Bird Camera
I was afraid of it being hooked to a pjhone as I only have a flip phone. Maybe I can hook it to my laptop. Our feeder is 10-15' from the house so the wifi should work. I'm not tech savvy in the least as you can tell.
I did see that. I've seen them at the feed store. We use just sunflower seed and in the colder weather suet cakes. The Hummingbird feeder goes up in the warm weather.
Both put out at the same time. Left, nutty vs right, sunflower seed. Suppose i know now which to buy during winter.
Truthfully i was thinking nutty for both next time. Trying to help the birds more than anything with the freezing temps and snow cover here and there. Can't assume it's easy for them to find food. I'm kinda thinking the woodpeckers like the nutty one. There's almost always one on it. Whether hairy, downy, or red bellied. The smaller birds seem to be on both. Kinda figure they eat the filler seeds.
I need to pick some suet cakes up and get the feeder back up. I don't think I've ever bought the fruit ones. Either plain, peanut or mixed with seed. I buy a bulk box of ten or 12.
That's usually what i buy also but my mom handed me these the last time i was over. She said my dad wouldn't let her put them out (suet cakes) cause they attract woodpeckers that inevitably hammer on their house. Last time at the store i saw some fancy ones. Like $7-8 each.
Ive been getting them at Lowe's. Price was cheaper in bulk box than at a feed store where I get 40# bags of sunflower seed.
Try TSC. There's also Ocean State Job Lot around here. I by the bulk carton. I try to buy anywhere the price is around $1 per block.
