Prey Question

[RatPatrol]

I can understand whacking:
starlings...flying rats
racoons...fierce, rabies-carrying pests
rats...self-explanitory
g'hogs and p'dogs...destructive to land and livestock
coyotes...can prey on pets, livestock, and small children
foxes...mangy, prey on livestock
pigeons...disease-carrying poop machines
bluejays and magpies...songbird egg munchers

But grackles?
I'm not judging anyone at all, just curious

Frank

[PryorDaniel]

Grackles...harm the "good" native birds

[RatPatrol]

Harm them in what way?
Do they prey on their eggs or young, or just compete with them?

thanks,
Frank

[PryorDaniel]

They're pretty violent birds. I've seen them attack other birds until the bird was dead. They didn't eat it, just killed it and flew away. I know they do target the young ones. I seen a mother grackle teaching her off-spring how to attack another bird. They might prey on eggs, but I'm not sure about that. The attacking of other birds is a fact though.

Personally, I didn't mind them. Not long ago a grackle attacked a baby finch and it's mother. The wife seen it, started crying and complaining about how "mean and sad" that was. Since then my war with grackles has been going and so far I'm winning. I haven't put up any pics or stories, but plenty have been laid to rest. I still don't really mind them, my war is more to comfort the wife than anything. The way I see it, if they're not doing anything "bad" around your property just leave 'em alone until they mess up.....then give 'em the death sentence. CPHP's work wonders on them :D

[shadow]

Destructive bird's, kill's other bird's , raid's nest and young and destroy's my feeder's to boot! but very well known in our Hunting Gate.:) Ed

I'll whole heartily agree with what Shadow said but here's another question maybe one of the N.Y. guy's can answer. Are they legal to shoot as pest birds in N.Y.? If they are, how do you know this to be true? I've seen numerous post from airgunners who are from N.Y. who show pics and do shoot them. Problem is the only pest birds listed here are starlings , english sparrows, and pigeons. We have an infestation of the grackles at my place this year, and they even chase away the Humming birds from their feeders.

[longislandhunter]

Hi Robert,,,,,

Here is a passage I copied directly from the New York State  Environmental Conservation Law that I believe will answer your question concerning the status of Common Grackles in New York State....................

"Small Game and Furbearer Seasons and Regulations
Protected Wildlife:

In New York State, nearly all species of wildlife are protected. Most species, including endangered species, songbirds, hawks and owls are fully protected and may not be taken. The few unprotected species include porcupine, red squirrel, woodchuck, English sparrow, starling, rock pigeon, and monk parakeet. Unprotected species may be taken at any time without limit. A hunting license is required to hunt unprotected wildlife with a bow or firearm."


So as you can see in NY State the Common Grackle is not legally considered an "unprotected species" and is therefore afforded legal protection under the law.  There is however one exception,,,,,,,,, the Environmental Conservation Law does allow the Common Grackle to be killed during the months of June, July, August, September and October by any crop owner, any employees of the crop owner actively employed in the tending of said crops or by the owner of the land on which the crops are growing,,, provided it can be shown that the Grackles are in fact destroying or damaging the crop.    

I'm not posting this to get involved with who shoots grackles and who doesn't, I only concern myself with the critters that I hunt and shoot,,,, it's just that you asked a question about the laws in New York regarding Grackles and I happen to know the answer since part of my occupation involves these laws.  

Jeff

[Timmyj1959@yahoo.com]

While we are on this subject/thread,, If deer are in your garden,, are they considered a "pest"?? He He!! ( Enter Smiling Devil Face!!) Tim.

[longislandhunter]

They could be  :)

Jeff

Thanks for the reply Jeff. I didn't know about the farm reference in the regs. I haven't filed an income tax return for farm income or grown any crops in about twenty years, so I guess the grackles get to pillage.

We have so many deer here in south western N.Y. where I'm located. That many, myself included ,consider them vermin. Nothing but wild goats .I hunt them and usually take a couple every year. But in all honesty , I'd rather hunt squirrels, or run rabbits with the beagle.

[longislandhunter]

I know what you mean,,,,,, here is Suffolk County out on the "east end" the deer are so numerous that they are looked at by the farmers as vermin and  they also cause many accidents on the roadways.  Most of the farmers near me have nuisance permits and routinely shoot the deer all year long due to the amount of crop damage they cause.  A while back I was on one of these nuisance permits and while I enjoyed shooting on the permit,,, and the meat that it provided for my family,,,,  it quickly became more like work.   I would be out in the farm fields at night patrolling in my truck and it wasn't uncommon to count over 100 deer by the time I finished circling the fields.  It was incredible.  That was a coule of years ago and the problem, and the herd, is just as big now as it was then.   I don't do the nuisance permit shooting anymore but I enjoy the bowhunting and take a couple each season for the freezer....   But like you,,,, now that I've discovered airgun small game hunting I'd much rather do that !!!   :)

Jeff

[RatPatrol]

Thanks for all of the info.
Grackles are the dominant species in my yard, and now I know why.
I am officially on a Grackle Jihad! :)

Frank

[Timmyj1959@yahoo.com]

Im a watching the "Vermin" Deer!LOL!! Of course I have never done it before,, but,, Im pretty shure a well placed 20+ ft. lbs. shot could possibly "Get Er Done"??  Of course at 10-12 yrds. you should be able to at LEAST  hold "Dime" size groups EVERY shot?? But of course,, small game is more appropriate!! Tim.

[Timmyj1959@yahoo.com]

Of course there are Many "Grey" areas of the law,, one of my favorites: Any "percieved" threat of great bodily harm changes the "rules"  Man I have seen some mighty dog gone MEAN gracckles!!LOL!! I remember as a little boy Alfred Hitchcok, "The Birds",, I am still traunatized by that  movie to this day!! Maybe my "Perception" of Great bodily harm differs from others,, but, thats MY perception, & quite frankly, those avian thugs TERIFY ME!! Tim.