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I had to run over to Academy the other day and parked in my usual spot under a tree in the parking lot. I got out looked around and decided that there were not immediate threats to my safety and started walking across the lot to the store. I walked about 20 yards and felt something hammer me on top of my head. I spun around while moving my right hand to my side and saw nothing but as I stood there, I was pummeled again on top of my head. I looked up and it was a huge black Grackle that obviously didn't like the looks of my bald spot.

I gave the entire area a 360 degree survey to make sure nobody saw this because I at this point I was laughing out loud. Never again will I go under that tree without my hat on.

MasterofFajitas wrote:I had to run over to Academy the other day and parked in my usual spot under a tree in the parking lot. I got out looked around and decided that there were not immediate threats to my safety and started walking across the lot to the store. I walked about 20 yards and felt something hammer me on top of my head. I spun around while moving my right hand to my side and saw nothing but as I stood there, I was pummeled again on top of my head. I looked up and it was a huge black Grackle that obviously didn't like the looks of my bald spot.

I gave the entire area a 360 degree survey to make sure nobody saw this because I at this point I was laughing out loud. Never again will I go under that tree without my hat on.

Those birds are nasty! Too back you can't carry a shotgun.

You reckon it might have been a Mormon grackle? Good situational awareness.

Particularly effective is a tactical shoulder-roll followed by application of a strobe light of 170 lumens or greater. The shoulder-roll is critical: it sets you up as a confusing target, followed immediately by the disorientation of the strobe.

Grackles seldom travel alone. If one stops or tries to slow you by asking, for example, the correct time or for local directions, be extremely cautious. Odds are, one or more grackles have flanked you, or are in the process of doing so. Scan 360 and start moving.

I've heard that Army-digital cammo, applied to the bald spot, has been an effective technique in certain covert operations, but I cannot confirm that.

Skiprr wrote: I've heard that Army-digital cammo, applied to the bald spot, has been an effective technique in certain covert operations, but I cannot confirm that.

I believe a steel plate in camo would work well...he drew first blood.

Local LEOs wouldve been responding to a shots fired call. And there would be a birdie funeral for sure.

Skiprr wrote:Particularly effective is a tactical shoulder-roll followed by application of a strobe light of 170 lumens or greater. The shoulder-roll is critical: it sets you up as a confusing target, followed immediately by the disorientation of the strobe.

Grackles seldom travel alone. If one stops or tries to slow you by asking, for example, the correct time or for local directions, be extremely cautious. Odds are, one or more grackles have flanked you, or are in the process of doing so. Scan 360 and start moving.

I've heard that Army-digital cammo, applied to the bald spot, has been an effective technique in certain covert operations, but I cannot confirm that.

I HATE grackles! They are nasty, filthy, noisy, aggresive, and worst of all, PROTECTED!

Otherwise, we would be having 4 and 20 grackles baked in a pie...

Crossfire wrote:I HATE grackles! They are nasty, filthy, noisy, aggresive, and worst of all, PROTECTED!

Otherwise, we would be having 4 and 20 grackles baked in a pie...

Plainview Herald, Plainview, TX

A reader called the Herald and asked if it was true that birds which could be seen in such large numbers around town really were protected.

According to local and area wildlife experts, the answer is "yes and no."

Joe Zotter, a wildlife biologist with the Texas Wildlife Services in Canyon, understood the confusion.

"It's a tricky law," he said.


As it turns out, Zotter said, by virtue of the fact that grackles are migratory, they are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. According to information found on the Internet, the agreement was created in 1918 between the United States, Canada, Japan, Mexico and the former Soviet Union.

However, Zotter continued, there are circumstances under which grackles may be killed.

In reading from the law, Zotter said, "Grackles may be killed only when found committing or about to commit depredation."

When presented with that terminology, local game warden Mark Collins laughed and said he had never seen a grackle that was not "committing or about to commit depredation."

Per Wikipedia: The common grackle population has greatly increased in the Austin, Texas, area in recent years and has become quite a nuisance.[2]

The are more than Grackles committing depredation in Austin!

Are you sure it wasn't a "religious related material provider" attacking you in the parking lot?

I think I read this here on the forum,
"wear your kevlar helmet 27-7, or guess right!"

Oldgringo wrote:You reckon it might have been a Mormon grackle?

No nametag.

puma guy wrote:In reading from the law, Zotter said, "Grackles may be killed only when found committing or about to commit depredation."

When presented with that terminology, local game warden Mark Collins laughed and said he had never seen a grackle that was not "committing or about to commit depredation."

Now that there is funny. However, there was a time when I had just washed my car, and about 15 minutes later it looked like someone had splashed cups of white paint all over it.

What's worse, the grackles act like they know they're protected. Pretty soon, you won't even be able to say the "G" word any more.

The Annoyed Man wrote:

puma guy wrote:In reading from the law, Zotter said, "Grackles may be killed only when found committing or about to commit depredation."

When presented with that terminology, local game warden Mark Collins laughed and said he had never seen a grackle that was not "committing or about to commit depredation."

Now that there is funny. However, there was a time when I had just washed my car, and about 15 minutes later it looked like someone had splashed cups of white paint all over it.

What's worse, the grackles act like they know they're protected. Pretty soon, you won't even be able to say the "G" word any more.

I would think the guanofication of your vehicle who classify as depredation, but you'd probably have to do guano DNA test to prove to the Feds it was the correct bird. And of course was the Grackle read his rights and given due process? Our government at work, protecting unwanted, thieving, disease carrying invaders... Grackles, that is.

Oldgringo wrote:You reckon it might have been a Mormon grackle? Good situational awareness.

LOL