How to Get Rid of Grackles: The Ultimate Guide to Reclaiming Your Property

If you’ve noticed a flock of glossy, black birds with piercing yellow eyes descending on your property, you aren't alone. Common Grackles are notorious for being one of the most stubborn and intelligent pest birds in North America. They bully smaller songbirds, decimate crops, steal food from outdoor dining areas, and leave behind unsanitary droppings that can corrode building materials.

Whether you are a homeowner watching your bird feeder empty in minutes or a facility manager dealing with a large-scale infestation, the question is the same: how to get rid of grackles for good?

In this guide, we’ll cover why these birds are so difficult to manage, immediate DIY changes you can make, and when it’s time to call in the professionals at AviAway.

Know Your Enemy: What Makes Grackles So Difficult?

Grackles are not your average pest bird. They are part of the Icteridae family (related to blackbirds and orioles) and are known for their intelligence and adaptability.

• They feed in flocks: A few grackles can quickly turn into a swarm of hundreds, overwhelming an area.

• They are aggressive: They are known to attack other birds and dominate food sources.

• They are smart: Unlike some pests that are easily fooled by plastic owls or shiny tape, grackles quickly learn that these threats are fake.

DIY Tips for Homeowners: Adjusting the Menu

If your primary battleground is the backyard bird feeder, you can often discourage grackles by changing what and how you feed local wildlife.

1. Switch to Safflower Seeds Grackles generally dislike safflower seeds. Many homeowners find that swapping out sunflower seeds or mixed bags for pure safflower can clear out a grackle flock while still attracting cardinals, chickadees, and doves.

2. Use Weight-Activated Feeders Invest in "hopper" style feeders with weight-sensitive perches. When a heavy grackle lands, the port closes, cutting off access to the food. Smaller birds are light enough to eat uninterrupted.

3. Try Upside-Down Suet Feeders Grackles love suet, but they are not as agile as woodpeckers. Upside-down suet cages force birds to hang from the bottom to eat. Woodpeckers and nuthatches can do this easily; grackles struggle and will eventually give up.

4. Cage Feeders If you want to offer sunflower hearts, use a feeder surrounded by a wire cage. Ensure the distance between the cage and the food is at least 4 to 5 inches. Any closer, and the long-beaked grackle can simply reach through the mesh and steal a snack.

The Limits of Scare Tactics

You may see advice online suggesting visual deterrents like reflective tape, balloons, or plastic predators. While these might work for a day or two, grackles are highly observant. They will soon realize the "predator" hasn't moved and return to business as usual. For a permanent solution (especially on commercial properties) you need to move beyond scaring and focus on exclusion.

The AviAway Solution: Professional Grackle Control

When grackles move from backyard nuisance to property liability (nesting in your signage, roosting in your warehouse, or swarming your outdoor dining space) DIY methods rarely cut it.

At AviAway, we believe the only way to truly solve a bird problem is to physically prevent them from accessing the area. Here is how we get rid of grackles permanently:

1. Bird Netting (Total Exclusion)

This is the most effective method for high-pressure areas. We install high-durability, UV-protected netting that seals off rafters, canopies, and loading docks. If the grackles cannot land or nest, they cannot stay.

2. AviAngle and Bird Spikes

Grackles love to perch on ledges, signage, and rooflines to survey the area for food. We utilize specific exclusion devices like AviAngle (which creates a slope birds cannot grip) and stainless steel bird spikes to make these surfaces physically impossible to land on.

3. Electric Track Systems

For areas where aesthetics are a priority (like historic buildings or retail facades), we can install low-profile electric tracks. These deliver a harmless but memorable static shock when a bird lands, conditioning them to avoid your building immediately.

4. Falconry Services

For large open spaces like agricultural fields, landfills, or sprawling corporate campuses where netting isn't feasible, AviAway offers Falconry-Based Bird Abatement. We use trained falcons and hawks to simulate natural predation. Because the threat is real (a live predator), grackles will instinctively flee the area and stay away.

Take Back Your Property

Don't let a flock of grackles damage your property or ruin your peace of mind. While switching bird seed helps the hobbyist, permanent removal requires a professional strategy.

Ready to get rid of grackles for good? Contact AviAway today for a free consultation. Our bird control experts will assess your property and design a custom solution that keeps your space bird-free, guaranteed.