Fewer Mixed Blackbird Flocks at My Feeders 2020

Last Updated on October 9, 2020 by Nancie

Large mixed “blackbird” flocks are the bane of backyard birdwatchers in late winter and early spring. Appearing in mass, groups of Common Grackles, European Starlings, Brown-Headed Cowbirds and Red-Winged Blackbirds can take over feeders and push other birds out. But this year, for many reasons, the blackbird flocks are not as much of a problem in my yard. Some of this is because of things I’ve done to set up my feeders and some is beyond my control.

1) Switch IMMEDIATELY to Safflower to Deter Mixed Flocks

Safflower is not magical but it is one part of the strategy to keep the mixed blackbird flocks away. In my yard, Red-Winged Blackbirds will readily eat safflower and European Starlings will run their beaks through platform feeders to find broken safflower to eat. Even Common Grackles will reluctantly eat it if they are hungry enough, but they are not fans.

So why bother with safflower? The big mixed flocks have a lot of bird bellies to feed and to my eye, the bigger, bolder grackles may be leaders in these mixed groups. If they can’t find food they like in your yard, they may move on to find it elsewhere. Yes, they may leave some of the other birds behind at your feeders, but at least you don’t have the whole mob there.

Why switch to safflower immediately? In some past years, I made the mistake of not switching to safflower quickly enough. Pairs of grackles decided to nest in the yard, at least partially because they liked the sunflower seed they found at first. Once committed to the territory, those pairs didn’t leave, even when I switched to safflower. The lesson I learned was to switch out my open feeders to safflower right away so the grackles don’t get comfortable.

2) Nutra-Saff in Some Feeders is Uninteresting to the Flocks

But some of the flock birds do readily eat safflower and Northern Cardinals are still pushed out by Red-Winged Blackbirds and European Starlings on the platform feeders. So how do I deal with that? I’ve been experimenting with Nutra-Saff, a version of safflower. In my yard, Northern Cardinals, House Finches and Mourning Doves eat it almost as readily as they eat regular safflower. I’ve also seen Tufted Titmouses, Carolina Wrens and Carolina Chickadees eat it. I’m not saying that it is a favorite, but they do eat it.

What about the mixed flock birds? So far, I’ve never seen a grackle eat Nutra-Saff. Starlings will eat just about anything but don’t seem enthusiastic about Nutra-Saff. I have also seen two Brown-Headed Cowbirds eat it.

Red-Winged Blackbirds will eat Nutra-Saff but if I put regular safflower in two platform feeders and Nutra-Saff in the other two platform feeders, the Red-Winged Blackbirds stay on the safflower-filled feeders, leaving the Nutra-Saff feeders open for other birds. So even with a half dozen Red-Winged Blackbirds hanging around, I still have cardinals.

Keep in mind that things can change over time. Seed that doesn’t interest particular birds at first can after awhile become acceptable to them. As an example, at first Common Grackles would not eat safflower in my yard. Now they sometimes will if they are hungry enough. So it is possible that over time, they will get used to Nutra-Saff as well, even if it is not a favorite.

Important Note: If you have never tried Nutra-Saff in your yard, start with a SMALL bag of it to see if birds in your yard will eat it before investing in a lot of it. Also, keep in mind that what birds eat can evolve a little bit. It is possible that flock birds in your yard may be more open to eating this seed than the ones visiting my yard. Again, start with a little bit a see how it works in your yard!

3) Cage Feeders Only for Sunflower Blocks Out Larger Flock Birds

I do still offer sunflower hearts/chips, but when the big mixed blackbird flocks are around, I ONLY offer it in tube feeders with a cage around it. (I use several Woodlink cage feeders and a Nuttery Globe cage feeder.)

This part of the strategy carves out a space for smaller birds like American Goldfinches, House Finches, Carolina Wrens, Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmouses. This year, Downy Woodpeckers have learned how to get into the Woodlink cage feeders to grab some sunflower. And our local Red-Bellied Woodpeckers can reach their especially long beaks through the cage to snag some sunflower chips from my Woodlink cage feeders (which I’m happy about.)

Unfortunately I’ve also watched a White-Breasted Nuthatch try it but go away frustrated. However, I have seen them get into Erva’s cage feeders. I sometimes sprinkle some sunflower chips in with the mealworms in the Erva mealworm feeder for them.

The mixed flock birds can’t fit through the cage feeder openings, so they are blocked out. When the flocks first arrive, they will sometimes try to hang on the side of the cage to see if they can get seed out, but usually give up quickly.

This year, I noticed that Red-Winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles kept this up on the one Nuttery Globe cage feeder I have. When I investigated, I realized that a crust of sunflower hearts had built up on the narrow solid rim “floor” of the feeder. The grackles and blackbirds would hang on the side of the cage globe and pick at this seed, keeping other small birds away. Once I cleaned this off, these birds were left to poke around for fallen seed under the feeder and the smaller birds were able to get back to the feeder. The Woodlink feeders don’t have this floor, avoiding this problem.

4) Nyjer For Some Sparrows is Uninteresting to the Flocks

I have also changed my millet habits. In past years, I often would broadcast white proso millet over the ground for sparrows. This year, I have used very little millet because millet spread on the ground appeals to nuisance blackbird flocks as well.

This year, I have instead scattered nyjer seed in a limited area for sparrows. The nuisance blackbird flocks have been completely uninterested it. Normally this seed is something you would put in nyjer tube feeders for American Goldfinches. Spread on the ground, it also appeals to Dark-Eyed Juncos, White-Throated Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, Song Sparrows and House Finches. The goldfinches will eat it off the ground as well.

Important: Whenever you are broadcasting seed on the ground, be careful to only spread what can be eaten in a day. Seed left too long on the ground can get wet and moldy and make birds sick.

5) Pure 100% Suet May B Less Interesting to Blackbird Flocks

This winter I experimented with pure suet blocks in some but not all of my suet feeders. I’ve kept these pure suet blocks out in the early spring. Once the mixed flocks arrived, I watched what they did on the suet feeders.

Whenever I see a starling or grackle on a suet feeder, it is on the regular suet blocks and not on the 100% suet blocks. If they do get onto a pure suet block, they immediately move off that feeder onto a regular suet block. The Downy Woodpeckers and Red-Bellied Woodpeckers seem to like it though.

This of course only suggests a preference for the type of suet with added peanuts, etc. I haven’t tried ONLY offering the pure suet. It is possible that they would go for it if that was their only choice. But offering both is a way to make sure there is suet available without competition to the woodpeckers.

But there is downside too. 100% suet can only be used in cold weather because it melts. Melted suet can dangerously coat bird’s feathers and also can make a mess of the feeder and ground below. So I need to be very careful as temperatures warm past about 70 degrees. I’ll probably need to take it down in a day or so.

6) Warmer Temperatures and Grackles Tend to Leave

One big difference that is beyond my control is outside temperatures. I’ve noticed in the past that grackles tend to hang out on the feeders on cold days but once the temperature gets around 50 degrees, they tend to disappear. So in late winter, when it is usually cold all day, they hang out all day. In early spring, they often hang out in the morning and then leave as the day warms up in the afternoon. This winter was weirdly warm here in the Mid-Atlantic so we saw mostly warmer temperatures and so I saw fewer grackles on my feeders in the early spring.

One strategy I’ve also played with is topping off my feeders in late afternoon instead of early in the morning. That way they are nice and full when it is warmer and annoying flock birds have left. The regular birds (especially the cardinals) then aren’t stuck with just picked over seed when the flock moves on.

7) Cooper’s Hawks Go After the Blackbird Flocks Too

Another thing I can’t control is winged predators. With so many feeders in my yard that attract a lot of birds, Cooper’s Hawks periodically spend time hunting the feeders.

One day I was sitting outside near my back door. There was a group of half a dozen or so grackles poking around on the ground looking for scraps under the farthest cage feeder. (They weren’t poking around the nearer feeders because I was there.) All of a sudden, those birds rose up, along with at least forty other grackles that were settled into the trees in my far side yard. They all surged into the sky and curved off and out of the yard. A Cooper’s Hawk had flown their way and that one bird spooked the whole flock. I didn’t see the flock again that day.

8) Being Present in the Yard Deters the Flock Birds

I still find that being present in the yard is the best deterrent for flocks. If I walk out and spend a few minutes standing in the feeder area, the invading flock moves off. Walking toward them and clapping a time or two will usually encourage grackles and mixed flocks to leave for awhile. Once I go back inside or sit quietly outside, the regular birds that are used to me, come back to the feeders.

9) Patience . . . Mostly

The most important thing in any fight with the mixed blackbird flocks is to realize that it doesn’t last forever. Once the weather warms, they mostly move on and leave the feeders alone . . . until next year!

Nancie

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