Grackle attack!

[only1harry]

I heard a bunch of grackles making a lot of noise outside today in the early afternoon around 1-1:30pm.  I hit the windows and realized all the noise was coming from the big spruce tree 27-28ft off to the side of the house.  

I opened the window and tried to spot some of them.  15min. later nothing.. there were so well hidden and the spruce so thick I couldn't see a thing.  All of a sudden I 'm ready to give up and see the 2 resident doves that have their nest there fly in fast and then all the grackles started making more noise.  Now I 'm PO'd..  Could they be trying to take over the dove's nest that 's been here almost 10yrs and kill their young?  I look again with the scope for 5-10 more min. and spotted a grackle sitting at the edge of the large dove nest which is visible from that window.  All of a sudden I hear young birds chirping like they 're in pain or out of fear.  Without hesitation I look again and confirm it's not a dove, and put the crosshairs on its chest but there are several pine needles in the way.  Carefully trying not to hit the middle branch of the pine needles, I squeeze the trigger of my almost-out-of-CO2 850 .22 which was now shooting barely 400fps.  The Grackle drops immediately hitting every branch on the way down and 3-4secs later hits the ground motionless.  Distance about 11-12yds.  At the same time 7-8 more grackles fly out of the tree!  

I kept watching the tree because I could hear them making noise across the street.  15min. later one by one fly back to the spruce.  The doves are going crazy again and have now been chased to the outside of the tree while the Grackles take over the inside.  I can see both doves helpless sitting together at the edge of a branch.  I couldn't see any of the Grackles again.  I leave the window and go outside.  A couple of grackles flew away but there are still some in the tree making a god aweful noise.  5min. later I finally spot one that hopped to another branch.  It's only about 9yds up and a big branch is blocking most of its body.  I can see its head clearly though at 7X on the Golden Antler so I eased off another CPHP 14.3gr.  The Grackle fell backwards and landed on its back a couple of feet away from me.  It was moving its feet slightly so I put another one in its chest.  The rest took flight as the first shot went off and after an hour of monitoring the tree have not returned but are hanging around the perimeter of my property making sure I can hear their aweful crackling calls.  There 's about 6-7 of them left from what I can tell.  

I 'm not sure what damage they have inflicted on the doves.  I don't see the pair anywhere now.  They usually hang out near the tree all the time or up on the power cables over the road in front of my house.  They 've been here for so many years I leave them alone.  The robins returned though after the grackles were dealt with because I 'm pretty sure they have a nest in there too.  I always see them fly into the tree or walk around it all day long.  There are at least 3 nests in the big old spruce that I can see.  Several birds share this tree and I believe the 3d ones are mocking birds but I haven't see them in a couple of days either.  I hope those grackles learned a lesson today.

[PeakChick]

Smack those worthless avian vermin Harry! I can't abide those worthless gangsters of the avian world. They do attempt to terrorize other species, but the cowards will only do it if they have a numerical advantage. I've smacked 7 or 8 of them so far, and they've really only been back a week or so.

[Gene_SC]

LOL Peak, and they are very noisy as well. When I put up my Cardinal feeders I will have to guard them well..:)  

Nice work Harry.

Gene

[shadow]

Great shootin Harry and drop more of em. They will invade the nest of our feathered friend's which do no harm, they destroy the nest and will eat the young, I've seen it happen out in South Dakota and that's why I dropped as many of as I could. I just had a flock of them land in my yard here the other day but they took flight before I got to my shooter, that won't happen again. Again great shootin and pic buddy. Ed

[Timmyj1959@yahoo.com]

Harry, Just got your E-Mail, thanks. Please shoot me a line tonight & be shure to include your mailing address. I sold a couple of guns today & have some expendable funds.LOL!  I will be glad to send you a six pack of 88 gr. c-o2 carts.!! Lets get that 850 back up to 600 fps. were it belongs! LOL! Seriously, Way to go Buddy! Talked to Curtis yesterday, the time you are w/out your 350 will be time well spent, you are in for a special treat my friend! You should take him up on the "stock" offer. There may be "only one Harry", for shure there is soon only gonna be "only one 350" the likes of witch most have never seen. You are very lucky indeed. Keep "thumpin" em Bud,Tim.

[only1harry]

Thanks Tim!  I 'll gladly take those 88gr CO2's off your hands  :-)  

Yes, I think I may have a unique 350 or one of few after Curtis is done with it.  The only original part in it will be the piston but he hinted that we may even go with a larger custom piston in the future but that might be pushing it  :-)

Spotted a nice cinnamon g-hog in my back yard today!  Can't wait to get the "hammer" back  :-)   The other one has started rotting under my shed and the smell is now above ground :(   Not going to happen with this other one.  He 's going to be on my plate dang it!  UPS is so slooow.. argh!#%&

PS.
The only reason I haven't put another CO2 cylinder in the 850 is because I can't find the pelgun oil anywhere so I ordered some more from Pyramyd but they are taking their dang time shipping my order as usual..  I like putting a couple of drops of that stuff in the valve or the tip of the new 88gr cylinder.  It's actually a must because others that have not been doing it had valve damage in their 850.