The only way I've found to keep them away is not to use any type of feeder they can access. No tray feeders and no hopper feeders big enough for them to perch on. I have a tube feeder and a mesh tube feeder for nyjer seed, a window feeder (too small for grackles and the like), and a Squirrel Buster Standard. The grackles come by once in awhile but there is nowhere for them to really get much of anything. Mostly they squawk their frustration and then I chase them off and I don't see them again for a few days. I saw one try to land on the squirrel buster - he sort of teetered there for a minute and then fell/flew off.

I saw two blackbirds visit my feeder day after the snow storm we had here in nw Indiana a couple weeks ago and although I've seen starlings in the area descend on any tree with fruit - haven't seen any at my feeders. Finches are also MIA

Hi Sylvia Da Costa - thanks for the update. I'm happy to hear you're toughing it out. Yesterday I felt so bad taking my feeders down at lunch so after work I stopped by my local feed mill and picked up some black striped sunflower seed (shell on) - the shells on the striped are supposedly harder to crack so I bought them hoping the starlings couldn't crack them, but the cardinals could. I also bought an upside down suet feeder which is supposed to help with starlings (even though I read some can and will hang upside down). When I came home for lunch today there wasn't a startling in sight - I was relieved but there were also less birds all together :( I couldn't take not feeding them (like normal) lol so I put out a couple more feeders today, with mix of reg seed and some premium sunflower hearts and peanuts (shell removed) - sure enough two starlings showed up - but I can handle that. I just can't handle 30 starlings and 80 in the tree nearby. I'm hoping with time, and as I continue to feed mostly only shelled seed, the starlings keep away. Once I feel more confident they are gone then I'll sneak out the good stuff for the birds I enjoy seeing. I may buy a caged peanut feeder soon because I hate to stop feeding peanuts too. Here's the one I found that I like so far. I don't know if the starlings beaks can reach in far enough (?) I'm hoping not. Duncraft sells this one for $39.95. I prefer to buy one local if I can find something similar. And for my little downy woodpeckers, I may buy this suet feeder from DrsFosterandSmith. Woodpeckers are one my favs to watch too! The norther flicker is always a delight to see.

Wish I knew. At least those birds are all too big to enter your box. If you're feeding, do research & try not to feed what attracts them. Wish you & blues success! Nicole