Ninja starling fights off 3 grackles then gets shot

[Smalltownairgunner]

Grackles are federally protected but they are a menace. Sometimes, starlings, grackles, and cowbirds travel together. These grackles were annoying the starling. The grackles flew around him while he settled on the branch and would fly at the gracks repeatedly. The grackles dive bombed him like a B-52 until the starling finally flew them off.

Then I shot him. I kinda felt a little bad to send a .17 pellet through him right after he probably felt proud of chasing those grackles off. Hah, in all seriousness it was a good shot and a humane kill. He dive bombed in between some rocks where he was unretrievable. I always have excuses for not taking pictures 

[Motorhead]

Gos to show ya ... no good deed go's UN-punnished 

[Bicycleman]

Parker, you zapped that Starling just when things started going his way!  I say, "Well done."

[only1harry]

The Starling was probably protecting its nest.  Grackles raid other birds' nests and kill the fledgelings and sometimes eat them.  They are basically mini-crows and are ruthless.  This happens on my property all the time with Grackles raiding the Robin nests, the Mourning Dove nests, and also the Carolina wren dens.  I try to scare off the Grackles every time I see them on my property.  I caught 2 Grackles killing a baby house wren in my backyard a few years ago.  I was too late to help it.  It looked like the Grackles were trying to open it up with their beaks and eat it.  They were even fighting over it.  I was PO'd because I knew where the wren's den was and I was waiting for their eggs to hatch.  I like having the wrens around.  They come very close to me when I am outside or land on the window when I am in the porch, and keep me company.  The Grackles must have attacked shortly after they hatched.  Nasty birds.

Good shooting on the Starling.  I wish they categorized the Grackle as an unprotected species.  They are just as bad if not worse than Starlings.

Harry

[grizzlyadams]

i have a small flock of orioles that nest here every year. it started as a pair but more and more show up every year. they have figured out that i protect them from other birds and have gone from nesting in the back woodline to nesting in the oaks a few feet from my back door, last year was quite comical when a bunch of starlings landed in the tree, the male was at my back door on the picnic table , as if to say "get your butt out her, i need help!" when i shoot the starlings out of the tree he divebombs them and plucks them! LOL

[dk1677]

Yes the grackles are nasty, I have a small bird book form my grandmother ( published in 1911) and the author comments they he thought the were one of the worst birds. But like Harry said they are protected   

[Veprjack]

Good job!  Think of it this way - the Starling went out undefeated and proud;not a bad way to check out!

[Geoff]

The Starling was probably protecting its nest.  Grackles raid other birds' nests and kill the fledgelings and sometimes eat them.  They are basically mini-crows and are ruthless.  This happens on my property all the time with Grackles raiding the Robin nests, the Mourning Dove nests, and also the Carolina wren dens.  I try to scare off the Grackles every time I see them on my property.  I caught 2 Grackles killing a baby house wren in my backyard a few years ago.  I was too late to help it.  It looked like the Grackles were trying to open it up with their beaks and eat it.  They were even fighting over it.  I was PO'd because I knew where the wren's den was and I was waiting for their eggs to hatch.  I like having the wrens around.  They come very close to me when I am outside or land on the window when I am in the porch, and keep me company.  The Grackles must have attacked shortly after they hatched.  Nasty birds.

Good shooting on the Starling.  I wish they categorized the Grackle as an unprotected species.  They are just as bad if not worse than Starlings.

Harry

I am not going to incriminate myself, however I would (be tempted to) back the Robin's and Wren's and just "SSS" ;->

[bubba zanetti]

Remember to check your local laws on Grackles. They are protected, but in Delaware farmers are allowed to give Grackles a 'ticket to ride' under certain prescribed conditions

BZ

[only1harry]

I am not going to incriminate myself, however I would (be tempted to) back the Robin's and Wren's and just "SSS" ;->

Oh believe me, I am tempted.  I used to shoot them until I looked into it more and spoke to DEC and realized I couldn't, unless I had a farm or the Grackles were causing monetary damage to the landscape, etc, but there is a clause about them congregating in large numbers and creating a nuisance, so I may start again beause in May and September they visit in the hundreds if not thousands, and make so much noise I get a headache and they drive me nuts.  It's hard to prove it though if you are summoned, and not sure it's worth the trouble, but I will take pictures when they arrive in huge flocks. 

Harry

[Smalltownairgunner]

I am not going to incriminate myself, however I would (be tempted to) back the Robin's and Wren's and just "SSS" ;->

Oh believe me, I am tempted.  I used to shoot them until I looked into it more and spoke to DEC and realized I couldn't, unless I had a farm or the Grackles were causing monetary damage to the landscape, etc, but there is a clause about them congregating in large numbers and creating a nuisance, so I may start again beause in May and September they visit in the hundreds if not thousands, and make so much noise I get a headache and they drive me nuts.  It's hard to prove it though if you are summoned, and not sure it's worth the trouble, but I will take pictures when they arrive in huge flocks. 

Harry

I used to also. I have heard they can cause structural damage to houses because their feces are acidic.