As far as many folks that feed birds are concerned, one of the least favored birds that dines are their feeders is the red-winged blackbird.  Most of us do not mind if a small number of them occasionally show up to feed.  During the winter, however, often flocks of them arrive and literally take over feeders.  While they don’t often dine on suet, they love all sorts of seeds.  As such, they can quickly dominate feeding areas making it difficult for other birds to feed.  In addition, they can gobble of huge amounts of food in a short period of time.        If you are concerned about the amount of food a red-winged blackbird flock eats when it descends on your yard, you have few choices.  You can continue your feeding regime and just take the opportunity to study the birds as they feed.  Since redwings often fly about in the company of other “black” birds” you may spot rusty, or Brewer’s blackbirds mixed in with the redwings.  You can also use the opportunity to study the feeding behavior of red-winged blackbirds.

       Another option is simply cease feeding your backyard-feathered guests for a few days.  If you take this approach, often the redwings will move on in search of other places to feed.

       While I will invariably grumble when a redwing flock invades my backyard, I continue feeding the birds on a regular schedule.  I do so because it gives me the opportunity to study and photograph these infrequent visitors.

       Another reason I adopt this approach is I realize that like other birds they are trying to survive the rigors of a cold Georgia winter.  Each species has its own feeding strategy.  In the case of redwings they roost and feed in huge numbers.  In addition, I am impressed with the fact that redwings will fly up to 50 miles from their nighttime roosts to feeding areas.  That is amazing!