Blackbirds

Like many birds, blackbirds can cause issues on properties. The most common complaint is the seeds and crops that they eat, often disturbing farmers. Blackbirds can search for food in large flocks and can roost in congregations ranging from a few birds to as large as a million birds. Blackbirds are able to adapt to multiple environments, and they prefer, like most birds, to nest near bodies of water. If you are facing bird damage on your property, the culprit could be a blackbird. Call Critter Control of Westland today for help with blackbird removal today or leave us a note here.

Blackbird Problems 

Male and female blackbirds vary greatly in appearance. Where males typically have black, midnight-blue, and greenish iridescent plumage, females tend to have duller coloring, most often appearing brown. Depending on the species, males might feature an additional splash of color. The red-winged blackbird, for example, has patches of scarlet feathers on each shoulder. 

Blackbird species hold different distributions throughout North America. Brewer's blackbirds can be found year-round in the southwestern United States, but breed and migrate throughout the continent depending on the season. They are especially common in the Westland Region of Michigan.

Though they rarely roost inside homes, blackbirds will absolutely take up residence on lawns, parks, golf courses, and the like. Blackbirds are omnivorous and eat a variety of seeds, grains, and insects. They commonly forage for ripening corn, sunflowers, citrus fruits, rice, beetles, and earworms. As such, farmlands and lawns with gardens make especially favorable nesting sites.

Common Blackbird Problems

While their presence can be beneficial since they eat a number of damage-causing insects, blackbird populations are mostly harmful to agricultural crops. As they often feed in large flocks, blackbirds are capable of devastating entire fields of corn, rice, and other crop plants. Additionally, they leave behind collections of droppings, which may contain harmful bacteria.

Though no single solution is entirely effective, exclusion methods can be used in conjunction with one another to reduce the possibility of blackbird feeding and roosting. Covering fields of crops or gardens with mesh netting is perhaps the most efficient way to deter blackbird feeding. Though time-consuming, scare tactics, like the use of frequent loud bangs or reflective tapes, also have favorable results.

Full-Service Blackbird Removal

Various species of blackbirds become aggressive when they feel their nests are in danger. Red-winged blackbirds, for example, will attack horses and even people they feel threaten their territory. As such, individuals should not attempt to approach populations of blackbirds. Instead, contact our technicians at Critter Control of Westland who have the tools and training to remove the birds in the safest way possible.

Call us today.