Someone on the staff of the Fergus Falls Journal must not like grackles, science or research very much, since the paper chose to publish Grackles a blight on otherwise beautiful town, a letter to the editor that contains bogus information about the species, a bird indigenous to the Americas.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's entry for the common grackle links to a page that groups the species with its relatives (Order: PASSERIFORMES, Family: ICTERIDAE): American blackbirds, cowbirds and orioles.
Bob Schultz, who bills himself as a visiting student from Canada, writes in the letter:
As a visiting student from Canada, I have to say that Fergus Falls is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever lived in. Kudos to the different administration that make this happen.
This year, I would like to bring attention to the increasing number of grackle populations. They have increased greatly over the last two years and populations have exploded on the south side of town where we live. These highly intelligent and invasive members of the starling family heavily compete against other bird populations for food and are also known as opportunistic feeders. Where we lived previously in Canada, the same thing happened and our songbird populations noticeably decreased and have never recovered due to the sustained populations allowed to live in our previous residence.
Years ago, when crow and magpie populations boomed where I previously, previously lived, the city sent out a licensed control officer to bring populations down to healthy levels for all species. If nothing is done, expect fewer desirable bird populations in Fergus Falls, and even higher populations of this pest. Thanks again for this wonderful place to live.
Grackles aren't related to starlings. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology page, Starlings and their allies, European Starlings have no American cousins that are native to this hemisphere; in Florida, the common myna--another non-native species--has established itself.
Put crudely, starlings are the eurotrash of the bird world. The Audubon Field Guide entry for the European Starling notes that the non-native species has "Undoubtedly has had a negative impact on some native hole-nesting birds, such as bluebirds and Red-headed Woodpeckers, competing with them for nesting sites."
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website defines invasive species as "Invasive species are species that are not native to Minnesota and cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health." The starlings' competitive advantage for nesting space with bluebirds, red-headed woodpeckers and purple martins is the source of much of the scorn for them, not merely their non-American origins. Ring-necked pheasants, for example, are an Asian bird, but not harmful to native birds while providing opportunities for hunting.
Missouri's Department of Conservation website notes:
Populations are strong continent-wide, though at 73 million birds they are no where near their historic peak of 191 million. Unlike the European starling, which is a nonnative invasive species, the common grackle is native to our continent and is a component of our nation’s natural inheritance. . . .
It is believed that common grackle numbers jumped dramatically as American settlers converted the continent’s forests into cropland; our activities have expanded its habitat. Grackles eat corn in nearly all stages of the crop’s development, and farmers consider them pests.
Not an invasive species--nor even one that's at a historic peak on the continent.
Do grackles sometimes cause problems for farmers and others? U.S. Fish and Wildlife regulations (50 CFR 21.43) that implement the Federal Migratory Bird Act allow taking of some members of the "blackbirds and their allies," without a federal permit, but " any take conducted under a depredation or control order to be in compliance with the Order and so the Service can monitor potential population impacts," and nonlethal methods have to be tried first.
Was Schlutz was simply playing Taxonomy: The Game! that's featured on the Fake Science 101 website and successfully punked the Fergus Falls Journal (and perhaps a teacher?) If he weren't Canadian, Bluestem is willing to bet he'd fit in perfectly with a bipartisan, science-denying slice of the Minnesota legislature.
Photo: A common grackle.
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