need to stop starlings (1 Viewer)

[barnstormer]

I have several feeders up at the minute but I am inundated with starlings. Does anyone know the best method of keeping them off the feeders ? some sort of homemade cage perhaps.
I am also planning on making a catcher tray for the bottom of my feeding station but the mesh is a fortune does anyone have any ideas.

 

[bongofury]

Starlings are in serious decline and I'm sure you are helping the species in your area.

http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/gbw/gardens-wildlife/garden-birds/a-z-garden-birds/starling

 

[jzmtl]

This is funny, starling and house sparrow are the most hated/overpopulated pest birds here but are wanted/declining where they are suppose to be.

I use blackened aluminum window screen as bottom of my catcher, seems sturdy enough and not expensive.

 

[JoeRawles]

Very difficult to discourage a Starling - get asked the question a lot at work but there are very few feeders which are starling proof. Most squirrel proof (caged) feeders are designed such that the outer mesh is large enough to allow up to Starling sized birds in, though they do find it more difficult.

Depending on which make your feeder is, you may be able to buy a specific catching tray for it.

 

[papanatur3]

This is funny, starling and house sparrow are the most hated/overpopulated pest birds here but are wanted/declining where they are suppose to be.

I use blackened aluminum window screen as bottom of my catcher, seems sturdy enough and not expensive.

Indeed, I dont understand the selective feeding of birds. Whatever comes along should be able to eat what its able to get to. I put food in the feeders for the small birds then other stuff over the ground for the pigeons, Starling, magpie, blackbirds etc etc.

I read a forum once where someone talked about putting a feeder over a large barrel of water so squirrels could fall off and drown. Quite disturbing and sad view some people have of wildlife. Pick and choose whats "allowed" to visit or survive on the food put on display.

I put a decent amount of food out daily and have a large pylon in the field next to my house that hundreds of starling sit on from morning until night all year round. Its not a regular occurence that they come in and harass all the other birds away. I only ever see them in the actual garden in numbers of 20 or more maybe once a week. Usualy thats to dip into the pond for a communal wash.

Fantastic little birds.:t:

 

[jmepler]

Starlings are in serious decline and I'm sure you are helping the species in your area.

I'd be happy to send you all you want. We had a murmuration of an estimated 100,000 Starlings this evening.

Mike

 

[Bob D]

For a number of years I've hung wire or monofilament fishing line off feeders to discourage house sparrows that lust after my sunflower hearts.

Attachment shows the setup. Sinkers are used to weight the wire. Note that I usually use wire or monofilament fishing line that hangs several inches below the feeder. I had shortened the "line" for some closeup pics and had no need to lengthen the wire as the setup was still effective.

I've had no houses sparrows (the flock is at least 50). A few have tried and gave up. Starlings and Blue Jays also avoid the feeders.

Goldfinches, Pine Sisken, White and Red-breasted Nuthatches, Downy Woodpeckers, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wrens. House Finches, and Chickadee frequent the "wire" feeders with no problem.

A search in the Food and Feeder forum may provide further information regarding the use of wire/mono. As does this link

http://www.sialis.org/halo.htm

 

[Aloof1]

I recently switched around my backyard and added a new feeder. I found it keeps the heavier birds off by shutting down the food supply because of their weight. The Brome 1024 SB+ has an adjustable spring inside so you can allow more or less weight at your feeder. If 5 House sparrows land it starts to cut them off, a sixth shuts it down completely. I added a Birdcam so if you want i can post pics of the cutoff action.

 

[The sniper]

Bird feeders are for birds,no matter which ones turn up,too many people want bird feeders so they can get the odd pretty little green or red bird turn up,they are there to provide all birds with food.
Starlings are an incredibly beautiful bird if you take the time to look at them in detail,they seem dull but in fact are full of beautiful colours,which n the right light can seem a bit like a rainbow in the way the colours merge

 

[Mary]

I am also planning on making a catcher tray for the bottom of my feeding station but the mesh is a fortune does anyone have any ideas.

Don't know how your feeders are set up, but would something like this work? My intention is to prevent as much of the dropped bits from being eaten by other birds as possible. This is with disease prevention in mind. I empty and clean out the tub every night, then put it back in the morning - otherwise mice will find their way in but not out!
The tub is from B&Q, and the netting an off -cut from someone who makes poultry houses/ rabbit hutches.

 

[Aloof1]

Don't know how your feeders are set up, but would something like this work? My intention is to prevent as much of the dropped bits from being eaten by other birds as possible. This is with disease prevention in mind. I empty and clean out the tub every night, then put it back in the morning - otherwise mice will find their way in but not out!
The tub is from B&Q, and the netting an off -cut from someone who makes poultry houses/ rabbit hutches.

That is a good idea. Over the summer I used a tarp on the ground that made sweeping up and washing down pretty simple.

 

[Alinde10]

I loved feeding the starlings in my garden, but my neighbour was upset about all the mess they made on her patio. I had to accept that my garden was too small so many birds and discourage the starlings. I removed all the fat and suet and now just feed nyjer seed and sunflower hearts in tubular feeders. I feed my pair of tame blackbirds mealworms whenever I see them waiting for some and hope that any passing starlings do not notice. If I had a bigger garden, I would go back to feeding the starlings again, as I miss them and want them to be well fed too.

 

[Robert Wallace]

All my hanging seed feeders have the anti-squirrel cages attached and are therefore only suitable for smaller species.
Unable to say whether they are effective against starlings because they are now a very occaissional visiter to my garden. The RSPB large round fat ball holder allows starlings to access at the top with their bills but they can't get their bodies through the wire grating.
Time was that if I placed any type of food on the bird table the starlings would be the first to arrive, but no longer.
My advice is enjoy your starlings while you can!