Lately when I’ve went out to fill the feeders in the morning I have seen a couple casualties in the grass. Both small birds. I think recently fledged house sparrows. Decapitated, but no sign of a raptor attack with feathers everywhere. Pretty much intact. Just headless. And then yesterday my wife c…

We have two main feeders. One is a finch feeder inside the globe which allows sparrow-size and smaller finches in, and the other is a weighted bar, anti-squirrel feeder, which of course, thwarts the grackles and jays as well. When the grackles come in, it chases most of the other birds away. Most o…

Maybe using non-salted salo at feeder would help for birds who need animal proteins? Tits and woodpeckers love it, grackles could be too.

Grackles are uncommon in Egypt. The common English name of the only Grackle we have, have recently changed from Tristram’s Grackle to Tristram’s Starling causing some confusion between old birders like myself. However, I never noticed such behaviour in them. Decapitation usually happens with the Gre…

[image] natemarchessault: lots of species that you might not expect; chipmunks eating bird eggs/chicks, Actually, I would expect that: don’t trust rodents.

I love this subject. So many people have the idea the bird songs are sung because birds are happy and unless otherwise witnessed, the whole bluebirds of Snow White appears to be a common place for people to stay in. I get it, (And I’m not saying you’re doing it I’m saying that my experience with so…

I totally agree that “My Octopus Teacher” is a masterpiece. One of its unique features is focusing on the warm emotions between the observer and his friend the Octopus. Also, as you expressed, it showed us how the naturalist kept going almost on a daily basis and bit by bit he understood the ecosyst…

I suspect this sort of thing goes on all the time - we just don’t see it very often. Most things are opportunists - easier to eat birds at a feeder than hunt for insects. It’s likely a learned behaviour. Many animals have learned that living around humans and our garbage is an an easy source of food…

The emotional element can’t help but introduce observational biases, sure. But at the same time, that’s how we usually end up really understanding stuff. These are not just other living specimens, they’re beings. As are we all. I tend to look at the behaviour stuff as opportunities that can help us…

At least this part of the choir agrees with you. I did a lot of reading about animal rights philosophy in the mid 1980’s and at that time anything less than ‘able to feel’ was sort of brushed aside. And that cutoff appeared to be at vertebrates. Which is fine - I’m no big fan of Factory Farming or l…

Amen. And thanks for those other movie titles. I’m going to check them out. “Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” (a great African proverb) “You can start by stop being so proud about being human.” (My appendum.)

How common is it for a common grackle to kill a smaller bird at a feeder?

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How common is it for a common grackle to kill a smaller bird at a feeder?

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