Blackbirds KILLING my corn crop

ryanwheelock · Aug 18, 2010

The blackbirds are coming in huge numbers to eat my corn. I've only got a couple of acres but I figure with in 2 weeks they will have it all. What do I do?????? Shoot at them every day with the shotgun?? This is the 1st time for me growing corn and dont want to lose the whole crop. A farmer rented the field about 10 years ago and lost all 10 acres and had to file for crop damage with the USDA or something. I just want them out of there!!!!!!!!!!!
Any input would help.
Thanks
Ryan

KIP in MX · Aug 18, 2010

If they are red wings, they are protected by the feds as migratory birds. In the 70's we had the same problem with milo and called fed wildlife dept. They sent a warden out with several propane cannons to put around the field. When the birds got used to that noise, he came back with a case of 24 half gross boxes of M-80 firecrackers to string on a slow burning rope along the fence around the field. Seemed to work pretty good, but 90% of the firecrackers got put to other uses! 12 ga with 8 and 9 shot thinned them out a bit, too.

Good luck

Roger in Iowa · Aug 18, 2010

12 ga. and when they see one(or more) of their members fall out of the sky, they take the hint pretty well. Especially if you are sneaky about it. Otherwise when they see you coming they will fly away temporarily.

It has been awhile, but got rid of a few odd ball shotgun shells.

JMS/.MN · Aug 18, 2010

Varieties vary- next time ask your dealer about varieties with a tighter husk. Had the same issue when I started in"72- one field near a swamp and a lake.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 18, 2010

If you are out in the boonies it is fun to shoot skeet loads into a thick fog of them and see how many fall. They will move out.

MF#1 · Aug 18, 2010

In KY blackbirds are considered a nuisance species and can be hunted year round even though they do migrate. There IS a "predation" clause that states they can be shot "predating or ABOUT to predate" which means blast them! They will get the hint;-)

trevor patnoad · Aug 18, 2010

let 'em havit.. we had a big problem on the farm. the only way to get rid of those pesky things is to give them the 12 ga. They listen real quick when they see there buddies nose dive into the field. you can also hand load some big bird bombs with a hand loader. ( ya know, no shot just alot of powder, usually scares the heck out of them.) Hope this helps.

Billy NY · Aug 19, 2010

At my place, we have 1 field that is kind of the bottom between 2 good size hills, surrounding fields are wooded and over grown now. When this field is in corn, the squirrels come out and get the outer rows, but those darned birds, mostly grackles, during migration will hammer the corn on the stalk, as I recall sometime in mid to late October. Might be some starlings in there as well, not too many red wing black birds, though they do flock with grackles, those are a little larger and have light colored, eyes and a blue tint to them. You have to get out there and disturb them, 12 ga. what have you etc., they do a number, I would be sitting in my hunting stand and they would drop kernels down onto the roof, as it's built within a large double trunk poplar tree, so they roost above me.

36 Coupe · Aug 20, 2010

Use a 22 to get them into the air, then give them both barrels of a 12 ga double.A pump gun can spit out 5 rounds fast.

Blackbirds KILLING my corn crop

ryanwheelock

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KIP in MX

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Roger in Iowa

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JMS/.MN

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Anonymous-0

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MF#1

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trevor patnoad

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Billy NY

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36 Coupe

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