Jackdaws', friend or foe?

 

 Around where I live there's plenty of Jackdaws! I know they have to eat but I do find myself scaring them away from my feeders to allow the smaller birds to feed. I don't mind jackdaws feeding off seeds that have been scattered but not on my freshly put out suet block, which attracts woodpeckers and tits! Anyone else with me or are jackdaws a friend?

Hi Jason

I have two visit the garden, i've made them their own landing pad away from the other feeders and so far they are not causing a problem, in fact they wont land if there is a Woodpigeon on the tray..so up to now i have to say friend.

unfortunately I have to say foe on my father's behalf. He's 86, living on his own on his stae pension. He like sto put out some feeders so that he can watch a few birds from his kitchen windows while cooking/washing up etc. He regularly gets an assortment of tits anmd finches but also gets gangs of Jackdaws. Not only do they try to steal the nuts they have a tendency to destroy the feeders too - so it gets quite expensive for him.

Wonderfully intelligent and social birds. They have the most amazing eyes of the pure sapphire. Yes the tend to do smash and grabs on the food sometimes, but if you give them an easy feeding space, they by and large leave the other areas alone.

Friend here ...

Ant

Black And White Jackdaw by PontyCyclops, on Flickr

Hi Alan, looking at your photo Id have to say friend too. But I have more than 2 coming, I have a gang of them like what bob says. I do put out scraps out on my bird table and if jackdaws want to feed from there, then I don't mind. But I have to say I sympathise with Bob's dad, when wanting to attract smaller birds, Jackdaws are certainly foe. I also have had experience of broken feeders, cant say its jackdaws fault but they're vigerous with the feeders.

Friend - I had a gang of Jacks that visited but they had their fat cake which they shared with the starlings from a wall feeder and they left the other feeders alone.  They even attacked a cat that was often a threat to the smaller birds - about 11 of them were calling and dive-bombing the cat and chased it under the hedge after which they kept landing on the ground and looking under the hedge.  I started putting out whole almonds and hazelnuts and things specifically for them after that.  Cat never came back in our garden again LOL  

I like this good bird-bad bird thing.I wonder if the wife would wear this ring?

That's a novel ring edgebander!

We have loads of jackdaws around here, but I suppose I'm lucky in that they don't tend to make a nuisance of themselves. I like having them around because they're entertaining and intelligent and I think rather a handsome bird. I can imagine what it's like when you spend a lot on bird food and want to see the more colourful ones but with jackdaws coming to spoil it for you.

I only put out three foods in three tubular feeders. A small bunch of jackdaws have discovered them and prefer the mixed seed - never seen them touch the niger seed or sunflower hearts. They only stay a little while and don't get greedy. They even clear up the spillage on the ground afterwards before they clear off. One has learnt to straddle the tube with one foot on each of the opposing perches and crane its neck round to snap up the seed from the feed hole. Another perches on a thin twig, which conveniently bends downward under the weight so it can take the seed easily. Dead clever, I think.

Lots of reasons to think they're a friend, but I'm biased!

:-)

Friend in my garden. Next to sparrows they are my favourite garden birds. I love them. I am lucky in having a flat shed roof, so I put their food up there. They also use a large flat tray I have sitting on an old chimney pot, but never touch the tubular feeders or cause any bother. I have a variety of small birds visiting, but not one is scared off by the jackdaws.

I am also lucky there is a large roost very close to my home, so outside the breeding season I see them arriving home in the evening, giving lovely aerial displays and making a tremendous racket!

Here are some pics I took last July of baby and mum.

 

 

 

 

I can barely wait for this year's babies!

 

 

They are just delightful photos Sparrow - I love seeing the chicks - the little jackdaw is such a cutie.  I hope you get plenty more this year.

I think, simply because they are a novelty in my garden - I have just over the past couple of weeks had one come to visit - I shall have to call them friends as yet.   Here's one of my pics - not the best, but he didn't hang around long - it was a case of grab the camera and snap!

Lovely photos Sparrow ... I had a fledgling Magpie in the garden being fed the other day like your Jackdaws ... all cute but wrong at the same time! ;o)

Ant

Thankyou Christine and Ponty. All the photos on the thread are great. The Jackdaws are the stars though.

They are neither friend or foe just a wildbird trying to survive in a very hard world.

Its funny how people say I want to feed these birds (pretty cute ones) but dont want to feed these (big and greedy ones) lol.

ChrisS.

They are neither friend or foe just a wildbird trying to survive in a very hard world.

Its funny how people say I want to feed these birds (pretty cute ones) but dont want to feed these (big and greedy ones) lol.

I agree with that Chris,I do not think we should be to selective of what birds we feed other than putting out foods that our "preferred" birds like.It is more than the cuddly ones that need to survive otherwise we are interfering in nature again even if it is only on a small scale.

Thanks for all your comments and views. I certainly see Jackdaws as friends now and after seeing the baby one with mum, no one can say they're a foe. Also got some tips about feeders too, brilliant.

I must say I agree with ChrisS that they certainly a wild bird trying to survive. I suppose we shouldn't "pick and choose" which birds to feed and not.

Thanks once again,

Now a Jackdaw friend!