Cincinnati Ohio European Starling Problem (1 Viewer)

[JasonSprengard]

I am a new birder but my family has always had and used a bird feeder. My neighborhood has always been littered with European Starlings however they never come to my bird feeder, that is until today. We have always only used sunflower seeds and I believe thistle. But today, about 10minutes ago I saw three European Starlings eating from the dropped sunflowers on the ground. I do not want this invasive species in my yard, or even better anywhere other than Europe. Anything at all that I can do?

 

[fugl]

I get starlings at my feeders also. They consume lots of suet but I’ve never seen them eat sunflower seeds. Are you sure that’s what your birds are eating rather than foraging for something else in the litter?

What to “do about” them? They’re an established part of our fauna & have been for years. There’s very little you can do about them, and I don’t know why you want to unless they’re causing a specific problem of some sort. But there are plenty of starling haters out there and I imagine some of them will be weighing in soon with a different take on the situation.

 

[JasonSprengard]

I have no issue with the bird as an individual. Well thats not entirely true. Around here they are extremely territorial with other birds and so basically where there are starlings there are nothing else. So I don't want for them to run the feeders. But most of all, they are a foreign species that is having negative effects on the native ecosystem.

 

[MichelleOhio]

I have plenty of starlings, too, Jason. My song birds will feed even with the invaders around, so I keep at it. They like to empty the seed feeder as soon as I fill it by tossing everything on the ground...that makes the Mourning Doves happy at least.

More than a Starling issue, I have a House Sparrow issue. I want BOTH species removed from my life. That will never happen, I know, but it could be a dream, right?

 

[JasonSprengard]

I have a ton of house sparrows too but they aren't jerks to the other birds. It makes me angry when they are around so I always scare em off when I see em.

 

[Guinness537]

I think there are solutions to both "problem" birds. First off we only have ourselves to blame.

I too have both Sparrows and Starlings in my backyard. I've managed to deal with them by purchasing feeders that won't allow either to feed and by proper feeder placement.
By separating the feeders hopefully you can let the other birds feed in peace.

Try and look on the bright side, if you have a lot of ES's on your lawn it could be an indication that you have grubs that can destroy the root system. Their acting as an earlier warning system so you don't end up with dead grass.



Cheers,

B

 

[little liza]

Air rifle.

 

[carjug]

Bottle Rockets.
No, I'm serious! My neighbors in Lexington Kentucky had to set off a bottle rocket every night to keep the flock out of the bushes.
.
The real solution, SHARP SHINNED HAWK!!!!!!! When the Sharpie moved into the neighborhood, the starlings left.

 

[amasara]

safflower seed

 

[Gary Polliard]

I had put up a wood duck house last year and starlings discovered it. One day while the starlings were away a screech owl moved in. I knew the owl was in the box and when a starling came back it looked inside and then sorta looked around in amazement as if to say "what the heck is that". The owl left the next day and starlings finally nested there last year. This year the owl is back with a mate and no starlings can be seen anywhere.

 

[JasonSprengard]

So get an Owl?

 

[Gary Polliard]

So get an Owl?

The male looks out just before night and his hunt. It is too high to tell if there are chicks and I don't want to disturb them. maybe I am overly cautious.

 

[Chopper]

Safflower seed if you want. But, just stop using platform feeders if you do. I, too, have Starlings, but if they stay on the ground, it isn't much of a worry to me. They kind of come and go from my yard. However, when they nest nearby, the problem grows a little more. House Sparrows and Grackles are all the same type of problem in my neighborhood. So, you try and limit the food to which they have access to the ground. No platforms, no Starlings.

 

[Gary Polliard]

The starlings attempted to put nesting material into the screech owl house but turned and flew away when they looked inside this year. owls diet consists of mice, insects and yes birds. I have found that if you use the junk birdfeed consisting of lots of millet the house sparrows will be at your feeder. I put up only thistle, suet square, oil sunflower and peanuts and house sparrows do not come to the feeder as much. I get a lot of woodpeckers (red-bellied, downy hairy) the nuthatch, titmouse, cardinals, bluejays, and of course the chickadees. I like "little liza" idea of getting rid of the two unwanted birds. I have cleaned out many bluebird nest with house sparrow nests built ontop of bluebird eggs.