Controlling the population of black birds in DFW.

[bryang]

Trap them, then take them to Guantanamo.

-geo

[USA1]

Trap them, then take them to Guantanamo.

-geo

and then release them back into the US

[bryang]

Trap them, then take them to Guantanamo.

-geo

and then release them back into the US

That's a good one!

[Aggie_engr]

I didn't think they were protected either. We shoot em up almost every day out in the rice fields because they eat so much grain. Years ago there was some state or county funded poison deal going on. We would bait em with regular seed for a couple days, then spread out the tainted seed and voalla, plenty of blackbirds everywhere for your pies.

edit: Actually I got to shoot a mess of them today, always a hoot!

[jimlongley]

The three major sub-species of grackle that are common in our area are all considered to be permanent residents, although some have been known to migrate within their permanent range.

Great Tailed Grackles have spread as far as South Dakota.

I think they should be declared pests so that we can treat them like rats.

[Crossfire]

From the city of Arlington website: http://www.ci.arlington.tx.us/animals/w ... ackle.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Grackles are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, a federal mandate. However, if the birds become a public nuisance and a public health risk, actions can be taken to control these pests if they get to the point of damaging property.

There are lots of non-lethal methods being used to control them. Unfortunately, none of them seem to work.

I am all for shooting the nasty little winged rats.

[Jason73]

Yes they are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/intrn ... ndx.html#g

Grackle:
Boat-tailed, Quiscalus major
Common, Quiscalus quiscula
Great-tailed, Quiscalus mexicanus
Greater Antillean, Quiscalus niger

[DoubleJ]

I like that Avian Dissuader, that's cool. Wonder if my CTC LaserGrip would suffice...

course, don't accidentally "paint" an overflying plane. they frown on that!

[fickman]

The University of North Texas fires loud, screaming rockets at them (think: loud bottle rockets without the pop or the sizzle). I've seen this tactic used elsewhere, too.

The city of Fort Worth uses loudspeakers and plays "birds of prey" screeches in Sundance Square.

Hillwood (Ross Perot Jr.'s development company around Alliance Airport and Texas Motor Speedway) hires private falconers to use hawks and hunt them. After a few consecutive nights of a hawk hunting a specific area, the grackles won't return for a few months. The falconer I met at Westport and I-35 was hired by Hillwood and he said he also does some work for Fort Worth and the city of San Antonio.

[bryang]

Ya'll want a piece of me!



Just bring it on.....

[fickman]

Come out, come out, wherever you are!

[bryang]

Come out, come out, wherever you are!

-geo

[TDDude]

Some places around Houston have been putting those large fake owls with the huge eyes.

It must work because those grackles go hang out elsewhere.

[longhorn_92]

Some places around Houston have been putting those large fake owls with the huge eyes.

It must work because those grackles go hang out elsewhere.

Those fake owls are useless after awhile... I have seen pigeons sitting on top of these mean looking owls...

[Keith B]

Here's a unique way get rid of them too. One of my friends did this while meeting to fly one morning and it was caught on video. The birds never returned before we left about 20 minutes later.

http://hotairballoon.ning.com/video/birds-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;