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Controlling the population of black birds in DFW.

Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 8:16 pm
by Beiruty
When I moved to greater Dallas, I was shocked by the huge number of black birds, small or medium size, I do not like any annoying black birds.

At sunset, there are thousands and thousands of such birds taking refuge on tree and hi-tension power lines.

What do the state of TX and Dallas City officials do about controlling the population of the black birds?

Re: Controlling the population of black birds in DFW.

Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 10:11 pm
by C-dub
As far as I know they are only concerned with them in the airports.

Re: Controlling the population of black birds in DFW.

Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 10:12 pm
by Rocket_Cowboy
Yeah ... I'm not aware of any efforts by government to control them.

Re: Controlling the population of black birds in DFW.

Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 10:33 pm
by bryang
Someone needs to come up with a plan of some kind. :fire

These black creatures are taking over everywhere and roosting on any and everything!! :fire

I hate it when one of them black buzzards dive bomb my RED Silverado!! and they seem to have their flight plan down pat...never miss! :mad5

-geo

Re: Controlling the population of black birds in DFW.

Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 11:11 pm
by Crossfire
Those nasty black birds are grackles. They are protected as migratory birds. Apparently, that is working out well for them as they seem to inhabit every available surface!

Re: Controlling the population of black birds in DFW.

Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 11:49 pm
by C-dub
Migratory? Really? From Denton to Waxahachie? Just kidding. It seemes like those things are here year round.

Although, I don't have that many in my neighborhood. We do have a lot of mockingbirds. I wonder if they've run the grackles off.

Re: Controlling the population of black birds in DFW.

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 12:05 am
by boomerang
Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.

Re: Controlling the population of black birds in DFW.

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 1:06 am
by A-R
Used to work property management for a large bank with locations in all major Texas cities. We had problems with grackles in every city from Harlingen to DFW. They would roost in the overhang above the drive-thru banking lanes and ATMs and deficate EVERYWHERE. Unbelievable stench - ground would literally be covered with white feces to the point you could not see the black asphalt below. One branch manager used to joke "They go to McDonald's (across the street) every morning to make a withdrawl, then fly over here to make a deposit"

We tried everything - netting to keep birds out from under roof overhangs, metal spikes on roosting surfaces, scarecrows, noise-makers, pneumatic air systems that were supposed to flutter like a larger animal and scare them away. Nothing worked.

Then my boss convinced higher ups to buy something similar to one of these ... http://aviandissuader.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Took a while - sending guys out every night for weeks to shine the giant golf-ball diameter laser beam at the birds. But it did the trick. Got them off our property for a season - usually had to redo the "treatment" each new season as newer, dumber, uninitiated birds would take up residence.

What's funny is that I now notice other bird-prevention treatments in other locations. I saw netting and spikes on the Supreme Court building and one of the Congressional office buidlings in Washington DC about 6 years ago when I was there.

Re: Controlling the population of black birds in DFW.

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 6:13 am
by Liberty
I don't think grackles are protected except by city no shoot ordinances. We get the big trio in Galveston Grackles in the winter Pigeons/doves and seagulls. Seagulls are the nastiest.

I proposed that Galveston should allow a form of skeet shooting at the seawall. Tossing food scraps and blasting the nasty things could be a great tourist attractions, and should be more politically correct than shooting feral cats.

Just kidding ..

Re: Controlling the population of black birds in DFW.

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 7:39 am
by flb_78
Beiruty wrote:What do the state of TX and Dallas City officials do about controlling the population of the black birds?

Maybe you could lobby the city and state for money to give out some tiny little bird condoms.

Re: Controlling the population of black birds in DFW.

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 11:05 am
by Medino
flb_78 wrote:
Beiruty wrote:What do the state of TX and Dallas City officials do about controlling the population of the black birds?

Maybe you could lobby the city and state for money to give out some tiny little bird condoms.
"rlol"

Re: Controlling the population of black birds in DFW.

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 12:47 pm
by USA1
Russell wrote:
flb_78 wrote:
Beiruty wrote:What do the state of TX and Dallas City officials do about controlling the population of the black birds?

Maybe you could lobby the city and state for money to give out some tiny little bird condoms.

Considering what I've heard lately we are spending on other things (click here), I bet it would at least get serious consideration before someone realized anything.
nothing surprises me anymore :yawn

Re: Controlling the population of black birds in DFW.

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 12:59 pm
by lrb111
Odessa poisons them. Pretty sure Austin has, too.

Re: Controlling the population of black birds in DFW.

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 3:46 pm
by USA1
waterboard them :shock: