starlings! i hate them!
By nova1945
@nova1945 (1612)
United States
March 23, 2008 8:01am CST
We have a couple of birdfeeders in the front yard and I love to watch the birds come in to eat. We have lots of wrens, cardinals, woodpeckers, gold finches, doves, bluebirds, and some I can't identify all year. But every year in late winter to early spring we are inundated with starlings. They form little gangs and push all the other birds out so they can pillage the feeders. I think they bring their own little straws and suck all the seeds out of the feeders. lol. Last year I bought a 3 tier feeder with 12 ports and tiny perches. The starlings are too big and couldn't get to the seeds. Just kept to the ground and that was fine. But they seem to learn quickly and now they can somehow hand onto the feeders to steal all the food. I keep chasing them away, but they just wait in the trees and come right back when I walk away from the window. Does anyone know how to get rid of starlings without affecting all the other birds?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
29 Mar 08
Starlings can be real pigs - stealing all the food and leaving nothing for the other birds. Here in Michigan we had a big problem with them a few years back and people were actually catching them and moving them to less populated areas. It must have worked somewhat because I don't think we had a one on our property this past year. We do have all of the others you mentioned plus blue jays, robins, and morning doves. I love watching the wild birds at work and play.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
29 Mar 08
Bluejays do tend to scare other birds off which surprised me here last year because we had 2 pairs of them on the property but still had plenty of other birds too. I have put out several different feeders and found the jays seem to like the sunflower seeds the most and as long as those feeders are full they leave the others alone.
Sorry about sending the starlings but you are very welcome to keep them - I worked hard last fall making what we call the 'bird sanctuary' and am hoping to get some great wild bird photos come spring but know those starlings will leave me with pictures of nothing but them :(
@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
29 Mar 08
They must have all sent them to TN! Ours are worse this year. Yes, we have the Bluejays too and surprisingly, the starlings seem to be afraid of them. I don't mind the Jays so much. They are scavengers too but at least they don't travel in big gangs. Maybe I can find a bluejay decoy and put it out there. Worth a try.
@wickedangel (1636)
• Dominican Republic
23 Mar 08
Hi there Nova
When I was living in London we were plagued by starlings at certain times of the year and the Council could do nothing about it. They were horrible, swarming down on people - especially around by Trafalgar Sq. In the end I think they had to stop the pigeon feeding at certain times of the year because it got so bad. I don't think there is any other way. They are coming to you because they know that there is food there. If you stop feeding the birds, your regulars will be sorry but I'm sure they will remember your generosity if you go back to feeding them after the starlings have migrated away! Good luck!
@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
23 Mar 08
You are right about them finding other food sources when necessary. But they seem to check to see if the food is back regularly, and I hate to deprive the others of food for that long. A lot of them have nests here and they bring all their young to feast at the buffet. Will have to just keep shooing them off when I can. Too bad.
@wickedangel (1636)
• Dominican Republic
24 Mar 08
I see you have an avatar of a cat? Can he be taught to distinguish between starlings and all the other beautiful little critters.....? That would be great if it could, wouldn't it. Oh, well then it is back to the 'shoo-ing' them off stage. Good luck!
