Blackbirds Causing Problems? Change The Menu!

Crows, grackles and blackbirds are on the move with their families. They could be in your yard monopolizing your feeders! If so, there are a few things you can try to discourage this practice.

 Feed safflower: Safflower is a small, white seed that is high in protein and fat. Many favorite backyard birds - including chickadees, House Finches, Mourning Doves, siskins and nuthatches - savor safflower. Typically, blackbirds do not.

Downsize your feeders: Try seed tube or smaller feeders that the big birds can't access. If blackbirds are a problem, it may be best to put away your wooden hopper feeders until closer to wintertime. Also, be sure you are offering the highest quality seed. Many times birds will "sweep" through seed on a hopper feeder searching for just the seed they want. In the process much of the seed may wind up on the ground. Mounting a tray underneath the hopper will catch the seed and allows better views of the birds.  

Create "small bird" and "large bird" feeding areas: Spread out your feeders throughout the yard so the small songbirds have an area to feed that's far away from larger birds. You can also try putting cages around some feeders that allow the small birds to access the feeders but keep out the larger birds.

Many times implementing these blackbird solutions can also keep out squirrels. In that instance, providing the squirrels their own feeder will keep them fat and happy all winter! Being able to feed the birds you want and not the ones you don’t want will help you enjoy your backyard bird feeding hobby even more. Happy Bird Feeding!

(Kathy and her husband, John, own and operate the Wild Birds Unlimited, located at 111 S. 24th Street.  Billings and at www.wbu.com/billings. She is a Certified Bird Feeding Specialist and is past president of the Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society).