Halfway Serious: Grackles in South Texas -- great or gross?

SAN ANTONIO – If you’ve been to a parking lot in South Texas, you’ve most likely seen or heard the Great-tailed grackle -- or you’ve seen the mess it leaves behind.

The grackle has left its mark as a bird that many consider to be a nuisance, and some San Antonio residents believe the bird needs to find a new nest.

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“They make weird noises,” one man said. “They poop on my car all the time,” another complained.

Although some people have pushed for the bird to go, senior editor of BirdWatching Magazine and avid bird-watcher Matt Mendenhall said differently.

“Birds can be a nuisance when people don’t appreciate them,” Mendenhall said.. “It’s a really beautiful bird, and that tail ... it's right there in its name, 'Great-tailed grackle.'”

Mendenhall said the birds are a protected species.

“I also hope that people would recognize (that) most of our native species are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act," he said.

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But what can San Antonio residents do about the destructive behavior of the Grackle?

Director of Texas Wildlife Services at Texas A&M Mike Bodenchuk had a few ideas.

“You can harass them without a permit,” Bodenchuk said. “They can get in large quantities and then the droppings underneath ... those quantities can be a health hazard.”

If you have any ideas on how to deal with the Grackle problem, send your comments www.Facebook.com/DavidElderTV.​


About the Author:

David Elder is the host and executive producer of the food and travel show Texas Eats on ABC KSAT 12