Pesky Starlings! (1 Viewer)

[MeddaJeff]

Having seen very few starlings up here, I put out a few feeders last autumn, including a bog standard fat ball feeder. All was well until about two weeks ago, when I noticed 4/5 starlings steaming into the fat balls. Smaller birds(tits, chaffs etc) are using the fat still( for their young, maybe?), so I wanted to keep the starlings off. Searching on the net I bought a squirrel proof feeder, with an outer cage.
Up it went this morning, housing 4 fat balls. The small birds starting visiting regularly straight away. About 2 this afternoon, a horde of around 20 starlings descended and decimated all 4 balls within a 5 minute feeding frenzy! Honestly, I’ve seen less voraciousness from piranha!
So, getting to thinking, and more research, I’m now looking at getting a caged peanut feeder, and trimming down the fat balls to fit in that. The access spaces on the outer cage seem to be smaller than the squirrel proof cages, allowing just the small birds inside. Has anyone else tried this method, and with what degree of success?

 

[delia todd]

Hi MeddaJeff and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators.

The Starlings are busy feeding their young just now, which is why they are so hungry themselves. Fat balls provide them with a quick boost of energy and sustain them while they go look for more appropriate food for their nestlings. As they nest colonially, they all seem to come in a group. This phase doesn't really last very long. Remember Starlings are actually classed as "Declining" in the British Isles, partly I think due to habitat loss, loss of nest sites and predation of fledglings by cats.

So I don't mind their presence at my feeders now and the smaller birds seem to manage just fine. Try scattering some mealworms onto the lawn, this'll keep them busy for a while and they don't bother with the fat balls quite so much.

All things Scottish can be found here. Also, keep an eye on threads titled something like Scottish Bashes; we try to meet up occasionally and they're always great fun. You'd be most welcome to join us on another if you can manage.

I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.

 

[Lisa W]

Hi, welcome to the forum. I think you will find us a friendly and helpful group.

 

[Kits]

Welcome to Birdforum.

You could try tying two hanging baskets together around the feeder.

 

[KC Foggin]

Welcome aboard and enjoy

 

[EK_Birds]

Hi MeddaJeff and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators.

The Starlings are busy feeding their young just now, which is why they are so hungry themselves. Fat balls provide them with a quick boost of energy and sustain them while they go look for more appropriate food for their nestlings. As they nest colonially, they all seem to come in a group. This phase doesn't really last very long. Remember Starlings are actually classed as "Declining" in the British Isles, partly I think due to habitat loss, loss of nest sites and predation of fledglings by cats.

So I don't mind their presence at my feeders now and the smaller birds seem to manage just fine. Try scattering some mealworms onto the lawn, this'll keep them busy for a while and they don't bother with the fat balls quite so much.

All things Scottish can be found here. Also, keep an eye on threads titled something like Scottish Bashes; we try to meet up occasionally and they're always great fun. You'd be most welcome to join us on another if you can manage.

I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.

I did not know this section existed, I joined the forum in 2011 😂

Will keep an eye on it going forward !

 

[Richard D]

The best way if your garden is large enough is to put plenty of food on the ground well away from the hanging feeders - starlings are happy feeding on the ground and will generally go for an easy meal over the effort of the feeders.

 

[MeddaJeff]

Just an update re my original post.
New caged peanut feeder with fat balls inside is working a treat. A couple of starlings have visited, but are unable to access the fat balls(hurrah!)The gaps are slightly smaller, and with the cage being that bit bigger, they can’t reach the food from outside!

 

[Euan Buchan]

Welcome to the forum. Yeah it can be bit frustrating when you put food out in my case a coconut and the Starlings will eat through it and it be empty with a few hours. It can be annoying but to be honest I don’t mind them. I usually get Starlings in my garden from April-July time then I don’t see them in my garden at all till next Spring.

 

[pianoman]

One partial solution is simply to use a wire feeding cage with a finer mesh. The starlings and other birds can still get to the food but can only eat small pieces at a time. It stops them finishing off entire fat balls at a sitting. Birds can only get to the food that is touching the inside of the cage, but as they eat, the fat balls shift position and more becomes available.

Edit: I have two of everything so I can be cleaning one while the other is hanging. Important to clean them regularly