Grackle Declines

Grackles were once a common sight across the landscape, but now they’re mysteriously disappearing. This story delves into the incredible work of scientists in Illinois and Wisconsin who are investigating the cause of these declines. One major suspect? High levels of neonicotinoid insecticides in the grain and insects they rely on for food. Researchers are tracking Grackles by tagging them, following their movements, and locating those that don’t survive—a process that’s as tough as it sounds.

This story was published in Audubon Magazine in Fall 2024.