Leave the cheap, generic seed mixes out of your feeders as well. Chickadees, cardinals, goldfinches, and other pretty songbirds don’t really like it, but blackbirds love it. Stick with mixes curated to attract specific species. Watch the blackbirds around your yard to get a sense for what they like to eat. Individual species of blackbirds have different foods they prefer. [2] X Research source
As a bonus, hopper feeders also keep other animals, like squirrels and chipmunks, from feasting on the seeds and nuts you leave for the birds.
As with the hopper feeders, once the blackbirds figure out they can’t get to the food, they’ll start looking elsewhere and leave your feeder alone.
Some bird feeders have perches you can easily detach so you don’t damage them. If yours doesn’t, you can always break or saw it off as long as you’re confident you won’t need it again.
You could also get a tray to fit under your bird feeder that catches spilled seed. If the seed never reaches the ground, the blackbirds typically won’t pay it any attention.
This is an imperfect solution because the blackbirds will still be around. If you want them to leave your yard entirely, try the other options before you resort to feeding the enemy.
Check the product information for the spikes you get—it’ll tell you which types of birds the spikes are designed for.
Alarm calls work well to prevent roosting in trees, which blackbirds prefer. Since this can get loud, you probably want to get your neighbors on board. Let them know what you’re doing—if they find the birds as annoying as you do, they’ll probably be all for it.
If the decoy looks like it’s working, make sure you move it to a different spot every few days. You’ve seen the image of the bird sitting on the scarecrow—if the thing never moves, the birds will figure out it’s fake. To the extent these decoys work for blackbirds, they tend to work for other bird species as well. Skip the decoys if you’re hoping to attract other types of birds, such as songbirds, to your yard.
You can also put netting over trees and bushes to protect them.
The movement of helium balloons in the air is also really unpredictable, so blackbirds tend to stay away from them. While this works for blackbirds and other larger birds, it typically doesn’t bother smaller birds, such as songbirds, that fly lower to the ground or are already in your yard.
Blackbirds feed and roost in large flocks that often number in the hundreds and can even number in the millions! You definitely don’t want that descending on your backyard. Once a flock of blackbirds takes a shine to a particular spot, they tend to be pretty territorial about it and will chase off or attack other birds. Because blackbirds roost in such large flocks, the accumulation of droppings and other debris can spread fungal infections to people who live nearby. [14] X Research source
These treaties are enforced through national laws, so the specific consequences depend on where you live. But one thing’s for sure—messing with migratory birds can get you in big trouble.
A wildlife control expert can assess your situation and help you figure out the best methods that would work for you.
