Grackle question (1 Viewer)

[tedder]

I have plenty of common grackles here in the spring. They love to nest in the cedars here. Not my favourite guests at the feeders but alas, they are part of the birding world too.
About this time every year they like to fly over my pond and drop in what appears to be poop. They float on the surface and are easily the size of quarter coins but roundish. They resemble the whites of an egg in colour and consistency and sometimes even have what appears to be a small tail on them.
Outside the water they just sort of fall apart.
Is this nothing more than poop ?
I'm hoping someone can shed some light on this for me. I could post a picture if necessary.
Thanks in advance.

PS - Upon closer investigation these Grackles are most definitely dropping these mystery eggs into my pond by their beaks. I guess that rules out Grackel poop !!

 

[littlesu]

Grackle

hello,

tedder I have the same problem with the grackles bringing their poop in to my pond, I have search for an answer on google and came up up with nothing, do you know now why they seem to like to bring poop in our ponds? I was so upset when i saw them doing this, even though I love all birds, I felt so disrespected as I really love my pond!

Susan:eek!:

 

[Jim M.]

PS - Upon closer investigation these Grackles are most definitely dropping these mystery eggs into my pond by their beaks. I guess that rules out Grackel poop !!

These are what are known as fecal sacs. The parents remove the chicks' feces from the nest to avoid its becoming fouled. They do so by wrapping the chicks' feces in a mucous membrane and then carrying them from the nest with their beaks.

Best, Jim

 

[tedder]

Hey Jim. Many thanks for the reply. Do all species do this I wonder ? And you have to wonder why they favour dropping them in my pond instead of the other 20 acres I own !
Problem has subsided quite a bit actually. Presumeably because the chicks have left their nests.
Thanks again.

 

[littlesu]

I found this article

Grackles almost always drop fecal sacs over water. Long ago, grackles usually nested near rivers, and the flowing water would carry the droppings far away. Now many grackles nest in conifers in people's back yards, often far from rivers. But the instinct to drop those fecal sacs over water is still strong, so grackles often drop them in swimming pools and bird baths.

you can read all about it here

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/spring/FecalSacs.html

 

[Jim M.]

Hey Jim. Many thanks for the reply. Do all species do this I wonder ? And you have to wonder why they favour dropping them in my pond instead of the other 20 acres I own !
Problem has subsided quite a bit actually. Presumeably because the chicks have left their nests.
Thanks again.

Most passerines and near passerines do it, but I'm not sure of the exact scope. I would speculate that water is favored because that helps hide traces and presents less of a sign to predators that nests are nearby.

Best,
Jim

 

[historyteacher]

grackle fecal sac question

Jim
do you know how long this might last? first time with this problem over swimming pool that has been in ground for 21 years! it has been going on for 6 days now.
liz

These are what are known as fecal sacs. The parents remove the chicks' feces from the nest to avoid its becoming fouled. They do so by wrapping the chicks' feces in a mucous membrane and then carrying them from the nest with their beaks.

Best, Jim