Dealing With Starlings at Your Feeders and Nest Boxes
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- Опубликовано: 21 окт 2024
- European Starlings cause many problems at your feeders and nest boxes. Starlings were introduced into this country in the late 1890s and have expanded to all 50 states. They present major problems for our native nesting birds like bluebirds and Purple Martins. They can also be problems at feeder stations and bird baths as their aggressive nature tends to run off other birds. This video includes several tactics for dealing with these invasive, exotic species.
Mark McKellar is a wildlife biologist with over 35 years of bird study experience. He has a degree in Fish and Wildlife Sciences from North Carolina State University and has worked for the Department of the Army, the Wildlife Departments of North Carolina and Missouri. He ran nature centers for many years in Missouri and Pennsylvania before buying the Backyard Bird Center in the Northland area of Kansas City. Mark has led hundreds of bird hikes both locally and abroad. He has taught classes about birds and other wildlife to groups of all ages and brings that knowledge to the customers of his retail business every day. More information about Mark at backyardbirdce...
#marksbackyardbirds, #starlingproblems, #keepingstarlingoutofbirdfeeders
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Cover photo of a European Starling by Ron Anderson
European Starling on deck arm by Mary Nemecek
Common Grackle, one with white head by Lisa Owens
Thanks for this great vídeo. From Chile.
very helpful
I started using safflower seed a few months ago, that, and nyjer seed, are great deterrents. My only problem is with suet, but after I made an enclosure with a hanging squirrel baffle and 1/2" wire mesh and a reduced entry hole on the bottom, I rarely get starlings and no house sparrows at all.
That is a great approach.
I would like to see a picture of that suet feeder.
@@sting1111 Here is a link to several starling resistant suet feeders available at our online store: shopbackyardbirdcenter.com/collections/starling-resistant-suet-feeders
what's the spacing needed between a cage feeder and the feeder itself to keep starlings away? I have a seed log feeder, but I've had to take it down because of the starlings. My husband has offered to build a cage for the feeder for me, I just need to provide him with the necessary dimensions...
I would use a minimum distance of 6". An inch or two more wouldn't hurt.
Any ideas of keeping them out of my squirrel nest box? They started taking it over
Unfortunately not. They are not protected so you can harass them and keep running them out.
Hi! Any advice on how to prevent sterlings from nesting in flicker's nest box? I have 2 flicker nest boxes, and I want to prevent this situation, but I've seen a sterling going out of one of the boxes today. I don't want the flicker to get hurt, Whevener they fight over the nest box the flicker always loses.
Unfortunately, the only way to stop it is by taking out the starlings. I know that sounds cruel but they are invasive pest that are not protected by law. I know not everyone has it in them to do it but the flickers could use the help.
@@MarksBackyardBirds Thank you for replying! For now I took down the nesting boxes, so the flicker won't get into a fight with the sterlings, but it's a pity. :/ Sterlings are only around my area, Snohomish, WA, for a month and then go away. I'll set up the nesting boxes once they are gone.
Good luck
Sparrows are such a nuisance @ my feeders. Can you please help with feeders or seeds they won't gobble? Thanks
It is best to stay away from bird seed mixes that have millet, it is their favorite seed. If you have a lot of them, you can try offering up millet on the ground away from your feeders. Give this video a look: ruclips.net/video/O16QsEdkoH4/видео.html
you can add a halo to your feeders - I've had great luck with those... easy to build, and you can use the feeder you want and the seed you want!
@@adriennelee6065 please tell me how your halo was made. Thank you
@@anesenuriddin9091 you need something that hangs above the feeder, from which you can hang crafting wire... I used a plastic squirrel baffle. Then hang weights from your wire so it doesn't tangle or catch in a bird's wings. The theory is that the wire resembles spider webs, and sparrows are not agile flyers, so they avoid it. I've had cardinals, house finches, chickadees, and the occasional downy woodpecker use the feeders with halos without any problems.
Invasion of the nest snatchers!
Nasty birds
What do starlings not eat ?
Your best bet is Safflower and Nyjer. They prefer grains so avoid anything with cracked corn, millet, etc.
how to rid them, time stamp 7:20
There are far too many of them to ever get rid of them totally. Discouraging them to a point of being to live with them is the best you can hope for.
I cure my starling problem with a .22
That is a legal option as long as you local firearm laws allow it.
I would love to be able to do that legally, Starings, house sparrows, squirrels. rabbits, groundhogs. Did I miss any?
@@jvcyt298 LOL That pretty well covers it.
@@jvcyt298 you missed domestic pigeons. Starlings, House Sparrows and Rock Pigeons are the only birds who have no legal protection. Squirrels, rabbits and groundhogs do have legal protection that technically need permission from you local wildlife agency to kill. They will often suggest trapping them instead.
I concur. There's such a thing as "birdshot" .22 rounds. I use them inside the barn. The small BBs don't penetrate the wood or steel so you don't end up with holes in your roof. And you don't have to be quite as accurate with your aiming.