Quiscalus quiscula – the common grackle. Also known to anyone who owns a vineyard as “the enemy”.
We netted the vineyard two weeks ago. As we have irregular row lengths, we use the 600 x 100 foot nets, and cover six rows at a time.
You can see how it’s done in the photo above. We put a macrobin on the back on the tractor (forks), put a net bag in the macrobin, and then feed the net up and over a custom-built guide and out over the rows. Workers pull the net out to the sides and anchor it on hooks at the bottom of the trellis posts.
We had good weather this year – mostly sunny and in the low 80s.
The hundreds of grackles that live in the cottonwoods on our farm will now have to forage elsewhere for ripe, juicy treats.
