Black Birds? (Dallas, Austin, Addison: foreclosure, how much, house)

[FROMNY_2_TX]

So, I just moved to Addison from NYC and I freaked out this past weekend in the parking lot of a Super Walmart (First time ever in one of these! SO COOL) because it was flooded with these black birds that sounded like hyenas. It was pretty scary for a city girl like myself who has only seen pigeons but I was just curious as to why they congregate in such a huge number in one place? Also, what kind of birds are these? I asked a couple of people but they had no idea. I also noticed a ton of them over a gas station. Anyone know why this happens? Is it just a season or mating type of thing?

[Debsi]

They come every year, and they love grocery store parking lots. Freaked me out my first year too. They're called grackles. Here's an article about them from 1996.

CNN - Grumpy Texans grapple for grackle solution - Mar. 27, 1996

Haven't you ever heard of birds flying south for the winter? You're south now!

[FROMNY_2_TX]

HA! Yes! I know, I just thought, can't they fly even more South? LOL! Thanks for the article!

[FarNorthDallas]

They are pretty cool to watch, but it does feel like your in the middle of a horror movie as they fly around in patterns. They are worse, it seems, at dusk.

[bookworm2768]

They are spunky little guys who do create a god awful racket at dusk. You'll see them all over the place. I suppose they could be called the Dallas version of city pigeon.

[Mckellyb]

These are some seriously cocky birds.

They're really, really dark blue, and they'll just watch you until you get to within a few feet, at times.

Being gone the last ten years, I'd forgotten how much I didn't like these critters. Dallas pigeons. That's the perfect description.

I'd forgotten how loud they are. Sheesh.

In downtown Austin, there is a park which appears to attract them. There are quite literally thousands of them. Enough so that it's a little disturbing.

[momof2dfw]

DO NOT FEED THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These things are NASTY! Run them off if you can. The minute you see the first one run it off. If you let one come and hangout then his friends show up. They can destroy everything w/ their poop. And their poop is DEADLY! We know of one person that ended up in the hospital for a month with a serious lung problem becaue he cleaned up the poop dry. If they poop on anything wet it down and then clean it up. If it is dry the particles can be breathed in and get in your lungs and make you VERY SICK! The doctors told him that they see it more than you think.

Some cities actually use cannons and other things to keep them from roosting and causing problems. They are loud and obnoxious. They are not scared of the fake owls or rubber snakes either so don't waste your time w/ those tricks. Foil pans and aluminum pans can sometimes scare them off. Running out into your backyard clapping your hands does not faze them either. Best to just grab two pots or pans and bang them to run them off. Yes the neighbors may think your crazy but they will like you much better if you don't let them all come to roost in the area.

[Grainraiser]

We have a foreclosure in our neighborhood that is loaded with trees in the backyard. Those dam birds have crap all over that backyard. Who ever buys that house will have to powerwash the entire back half of that house. I hate Grackles with a passion. Sorry PETA folks but my pellet gun keeps them away from my place.

[lh_newbie]

I wonder if alkaseltzer does the trick with grackles like it does seagulls (or so I heard)...

[loves2read]

then you have dead grakles to deal with
nasty is right
at least you can eat pigeons if you are desparate--don't know anyone who would want to try a grackle...