I was once in a hurry and picked up a loaf of bread at Costco without
checking any more than the date on it. Thankfully the checker noticed the
hole in the bag and got me another one. And now I know why!

Two of the Costco's where I shop are overrun with grackles. For those of
you who are unfamiliar with them, they are birds that are similar to crows
but smaller. They might look black but in the light, they have pretty
purple and green iridescent accents to their feathers.

Anyway... I watched as a grackle stood in the bread aisle, stopping all
traffic for a few seconds. Then it walked under the bread racks and began
pecking the bags open. Yep!

At first I felt sorry for it, thinking that it had gotten trapped in the
store and was just hungry. But maybe not. As I was leaving, I saw many of
them flying out the door.

Because of the design of most Costco's, they have big wide entrance and exit
doors that do not close unless the store is closed. So very easy for those
birds to get in and out.

When I worked at K Mart, we sometimes got birds in the store through the
receiving doors and they would often get trapped if they made their way into
the store. Usually we were able to get them back out but by then they were
often rather weak and battered from flying and flying and hitting the glass
windows.

So be cautious of bread that you buy at Costco, particularly if it is on the
bottom of the rack!

Julie Bove wrote:
>
> I was once in a hurry and picked up a loaf of bread at Costco without
> checking any more than the date on it. Thankfully the checker noticed the
> hole in the bag and got me another one. And now I know why!
>
> Two of the Costco's where I shop are overrun with grackles. For those of
> you who are unfamiliar with them, they are birds that are similar to crows
> but smaller. They might look black but in the light, they have pretty
> purple and green iridescent accents to their feathers.
>
> Anyway... I watched as a grackle stood in the bread aisle, stopping all
> traffic for a few seconds. Then it walked under the bread racks and began
> pecking the bags open. Yep!
>
> At first I felt sorry for it, thinking that it had gotten trapped in the
> store and was just hungry. But maybe not. As I was leaving, I saw many of
> them flying out the door.
>
> Because of the design of most Costco's, they have big wide entrance and exit
> doors that do not close unless the store is closed. So very easy for those
> birds to get in and out.
>
> When I worked at K Mart, we sometimes got birds in the store through the
> receiving doors and they would often get trapped if they made their way into
> the store. Usually we were able to get them back out but by then they were
> often rather weak and battered from flying and flying and hitting the glass
> windows.
>
> So be cautious of bread that you buy at Costco, particularly if it is on the
> bottom of the rack!

They need air curtains at the doors. They are mostly intended for bugs,
but good ones will tend to discourage birds from crossing the strong
down draft as well.

"Pete C." > wrote in message
...
>
> Julie Bove wrote:
>>
>> I was once in a hurry and picked up a loaf of bread at Costco without
>> checking any more than the date on it. Thankfully the checker noticed
>> the
>> hole in the bag and got me another one. And now I know why!
>>
>> Two of the Costco's where I shop are overrun with grackles. For those of
>> you who are unfamiliar with them, they are birds that are similar to
>> crows
>> but smaller. They might look black but in the light, they have pretty
>> purple and green iridescent accents to their feathers.
>>
>> Anyway... I watched as a grackle stood in the bread aisle, stopping all
>> traffic for a few seconds. Then it walked under the bread racks and
>> began
>> pecking the bags open. Yep!
>>
>> At first I felt sorry for it, thinking that it had gotten trapped in the
>> store and was just hungry. But maybe not. As I was leaving, I saw many
>> of
>> them flying out the door.
>>
>> Because of the design of most Costco's, they have big wide entrance and
>> exit
>> doors that do not close unless the store is closed. So very easy for
>> those
>> birds to get in and out.
>>
>> When I worked at K Mart, we sometimes got birds in the store through the
>> receiving doors and they would often get trapped if they made their way
>> into
>> the store. Usually we were able to get them back out but by then they
>> were
>> often rather weak and battered from flying and flying and hitting the
>> glass
>> windows.
>>
>> So be cautious of bread that you buy at Costco, particularly if it is on
>> the
>> bottom of the rack!
>
> They need air curtains at the doors. They are mostly intended for bugs,
> but good ones will tend to discourage birds from crossing the strong
> down draft as well.

Are those the plastic things? And now that I think about it... Winco has
similar open doors but the door to the entrance has some extreme blowing
air. Cold in the summer, hot in the winter. I wonder if it discourages the
birds?

Julie Bove wrote:
>
> "Pete C." > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > Julie Bove wrote:
> >>
> >> I was once in a hurry and picked up a loaf of bread at Costco without
> >> checking any more than the date on it. Thankfully the checker noticed
> >> the
> >> hole in the bag and got me another one. And now I know why!
> >>
> >> Two of the Costco's where I shop are overrun with grackles. For those of
> >> you who are unfamiliar with them, they are birds that are similar to
> >> crows
> >> but smaller. They might look black but in the light, they have pretty
> >> purple and green iridescent accents to their feathers.
> >>
> >> Anyway... I watched as a grackle stood in the bread aisle, stopping all
> >> traffic for a few seconds. Then it walked under the bread racks and
> >> began
> >> pecking the bags open. Yep!
> >>
> >> At first I felt sorry for it, thinking that it had gotten trapped in the
> >> store and was just hungry. But maybe not. As I was leaving, I saw many
> >> of
> >> them flying out the door.
> >>
> >> Because of the design of most Costco's, they have big wide entrance and
> >> exit
> >> doors that do not close unless the store is closed. So very easy for
> >> those
> >> birds to get in and out.
> >>
> >> When I worked at K Mart, we sometimes got birds in the store through the
> >> receiving doors and they would often get trapped if they made their way
> >> into
> >> the store. Usually we were able to get them back out but by then they
> >> were
> >> often rather weak and battered from flying and flying and hitting the
> >> glass
> >> windows.
> >>
> >> So be cautious of bread that you buy at Costco, particularly if it is on
> >> the
> >> bottom of the rack!
> >
> > They need air curtains at the doors. They are mostly intended for bugs,
> > but good ones will tend to discourage birds from crossing the strong
> > down draft as well.
>
> Are those the plastic things? And now that I think about it... Winco has
> similar open doors but the door to the entrance has some extreme blowing
> air. Cold in the summer, hot in the winter. I wonder if it discourages the
> birds?

Air curtain = big blowers above the doors blowing air down.

On Wednesday, September 10, 2014 9:07:16 PM UTC-7, Julie Bove wrote:

> Two of the Costco's where I shop are overrun with grackles. For those of
> you who are unfamiliar with them, they are birds that are similar to crows
> but smaller. They might look black but in the light, they have pretty
> purple and green iridescent accents to their feathers.

Grackles are very common in the Midwest, where they flock together. I
think of them as the "black birds with the blue heads." They are as
unappealing as starlings.

On 9/11/2014 10:29 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
> I have seen smaller finch-sized birds in the regular grocery stores, but
> never anything bigger than a robin.
>
> -sw

What are you, the Robert Stroud of grocery stores?

"Pete C." > wrote in message
...
>
> Julie Bove wrote:
>>
>> I was once in a hurry and picked up a loaf of bread at Costco without
>> checking any more than the date on it. Thankfully the checker noticed
>> the
>> hole in the bag and got me another one. And now I know why!
>>
>> Two of the Costco's where I shop are overrun with grackles. For those of
>> you who are unfamiliar with them, they are birds that are similar to
>> crows
>> but smaller. They might look black but in the light, they have pretty
>> purple and green iridescent accents to their feathers.
>>
>> Anyway... I watched as a grackle stood in the bread aisle, stopping all
>> traffic for a few seconds. Then it walked under the bread racks and
>> began
>> pecking the bags open. Yep!
>>
>> At first I felt sorry for it, thinking that it had gotten trapped in the
>> store and was just hungry. But maybe not. As I was leaving, I saw many
>> of
>> them flying out the door.
>>
>> Because of the design of most Costco's, they have big wide entrance and
>> exit
>> doors that do not close unless the store is closed. So very easy for
>> those
>> birds to get in and out.
>>
>> When I worked at K Mart, we sometimes got birds in the store through the
>> receiving doors and they would often get trapped if they made their way
>> into
>> the store. Usually we were able to get them back out but by then they
>> were
>> often rather weak and battered from flying and flying and hitting the
>> glass
>> windows.
>>
>> So be cautious of bread that you buy at Costco, particularly if it is on
>> the
>> bottom of the rack!

Costco soon to start selling shotguns and ammo. You heard it here first.

On 9/11/2014 12:46 PM, Pico Rico wrote:
> "Pete C." > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> Julie Bove wrote:
>>>
>>> I was once in a hurry and picked up a loaf of bread at Costco without
>>> checking any more than the date on it. Thankfully the checker noticed
>>> the
>>> hole in the bag and got me another one. And now I know why!
>>>
>>> Two of the Costco's where I shop are overrun with grackles. For those of
>>> you who are unfamiliar with them, they are birds that are similar to
>>> crows
>>> but smaller. They might look black but in the light, they have pretty
>>> purple and green iridescent accents to their feathers.
>>>
>>> Anyway... I watched as a grackle stood in the bread aisle, stopping all
>>> traffic for a few seconds. Then it walked under the bread racks and
>>> began
>>> pecking the bags open. Yep!
>>>
>>> At first I felt sorry for it, thinking that it had gotten trapped in the
>>> store and was just hungry. But maybe not. As I was leaving, I saw many
>>> of
>>> them flying out the door.
>>>
>>> Because of the design of most Costco's, they have big wide entrance and
>>> exit
>>> doors that do not close unless the store is closed. So very easy for
>>> those
>>> birds to get in and out.
>>>
>>> When I worked at K Mart, we sometimes got birds in the store through the
>>> receiving doors and they would often get trapped if they made their way
>>> into
>>> the store. Usually we were able to get them back out but by then they
>>> were
>>> often rather weak and battered from flying and flying and hitting the
>>> glass
>>> windows.
>>>
>>> So be cautious of bread that you buy at Costco, particularly if it is on
>>> the
>>> bottom of the rack!
>
> Costco soon to start selling shotguns and ammo. You heard it here first.
>
>
Seriously???

"Pete C." > wrote in message
...
>
> Julie Bove wrote:
>>
>> "Pete C." > wrote in message
>> ...
>> >
>> > Julie Bove wrote:
>> >>
>> >> I was once in a hurry and picked up a loaf of bread at Costco without
>> >> checking any more than the date on it. Thankfully the checker noticed
>> >> the
>> >> hole in the bag and got me another one. And now I know why!
>> >>
>> >> Two of the Costco's where I shop are overrun with grackles. For those
>> >> of
>> >> you who are unfamiliar with them, they are birds that are similar to
>> >> crows
>> >> but smaller. They might look black but in the light, they have pretty
>> >> purple and green iridescent accents to their feathers.
>> >>
>> >> Anyway... I watched as a grackle stood in the bread aisle, stopping
>> >> all
>> >> traffic for a few seconds. Then it walked under the bread racks and
>> >> began
>> >> pecking the bags open. Yep!
>> >>
>> >> At first I felt sorry for it, thinking that it had gotten trapped in
>> >> the
>> >> store and was just hungry. But maybe not. As I was leaving, I saw
>> >> many
>> >> of
>> >> them flying out the door.
>> >>
>> >> Because of the design of most Costco's, they have big wide entrance
>> >> and
>> >> exit
>> >> doors that do not close unless the store is closed. So very easy for
>> >> those
>> >> birds to get in and out.
>> >>
>> >> When I worked at K Mart, we sometimes got birds in the store through
>> >> the
>> >> receiving doors and they would often get trapped if they made their
>> >> way
>> >> into
>> >> the store. Usually we were able to get them back out but by then they
>> >> were
>> >> often rather weak and battered from flying and flying and hitting the
>> >> glass
>> >> windows.
>> >>
>> >> So be cautious of bread that you buy at Costco, particularly if it is
>> >> on
>> >> the
>> >> bottom of the rack!
>> >
>> > They need air curtains at the doors. They are mostly intended for bugs,
>> > but good ones will tend to discourage birds from crossing the strong
>> > down draft as well.
>>
>> Are those the plastic things? And now that I think about it... Winco
>> has
>> similar open doors but the door to the entrance has some extreme blowing
>> air. Cold in the summer, hot in the winter. I wonder if it discourages
>> the
>> birds?
>
> Air curtain = big blowers above the doors blowing air down.

Ah, that is what Winco has then!

> wrote in message
...
> On Wednesday, September 10, 2014 9:07:16 PM UTC-7, Julie Bove wrote:
>
>> Two of the Costco's where I shop are overrun with grackles. For those of
>> you who are unfamiliar with them, they are birds that are similar to
>> crows
>> but smaller. They might look black but in the light, they have pretty
>> purple and green iridescent accents to their feathers.
>
> Grackles are very common in the Midwest, where they flock together. I
> think of them as the "black birds with the blue heads." They are as
> unappealing as starlings.

Yes.

"Mayo" > wrote in message ...
> On 9/11/2014 12:46 PM, Pico Rico wrote:
>> "Pete C." > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>> Julie Bove wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I was once in a hurry and picked up a loaf of bread at Costco without
>>>> checking any more than the date on it. Thankfully the checker noticed
>>>> the
>>>> hole in the bag and got me another one. And now I know why!
>>>>
>>>> Two of the Costco's where I shop are overrun with grackles. For those
>>>> of
>>>> you who are unfamiliar with them, they are birds that are similar to
>>>> crows
>>>> but smaller. They might look black but in the light, they have pretty
>>>> purple and green iridescent accents to their feathers.
>>>>
>>>> Anyway... I watched as a grackle stood in the bread aisle, stopping
>>>> all
>>>> traffic for a few seconds. Then it walked under the bread racks and
>>>> began
>>>> pecking the bags open. Yep!
>>>>
>>>> At first I felt sorry for it, thinking that it had gotten trapped in
>>>> the
>>>> store and was just hungry. But maybe not. As I was leaving, I saw
>>>> many
>>>> of
>>>> them flying out the door.
>>>>
>>>> Because of the design of most Costco's, they have big wide entrance and
>>>> exit
>>>> doors that do not close unless the store is closed. So very easy for
>>>> those
>>>> birds to get in and out.
>>>>
>>>> When I worked at K Mart, we sometimes got birds in the store through
>>>> the
>>>> receiving doors and they would often get trapped if they made their way
>>>> into
>>>> the store. Usually we were able to get them back out but by then they
>>>> were
>>>> often rather weak and battered from flying and flying and hitting the
>>>> glass
>>>> windows.
>>>>
>>>> So be cautious of bread that you buy at Costco, particularly if it is
>>>> on
>>>> the
>>>> bottom of the rack!
>>
>> Costco soon to start selling shotguns and ammo. You heard it here first.
>>
>>
> Seriously???

Would I kid you? Here on RFC?