Trapped Starling (1 Viewer)

[Kezza]

As I mentioned earlier, we have at least twenty young Starlings coming to feed at the moment, which is a lot for my small garden and feeders to cope with!

Earlier I popped into the kitchen and glanced out of the window, like you do. There were three Starlings on the fat ball holder and a lot of noise as usual. Then I noticed that there was one inside the feeder! Head downwards his entire body was in there and the lid was missing.

Opening the door, the others left but this one was clearly stuck. Taking down the feeder I could see the bend in his wing (wrist is it called?) was stuck through a side hole. It took my ages to gently push it back through, he was well and truly stuck. Eventually eased him out and after a quick check, off he went, without so much as a thank you or an apology for pooping all over me.

The feeder was fine when I filled it in the morning but somehow both sides of the plastic lid had broken during the day. I'm now on the lookout for one with a metal lid so it doesn't happen again, but haven't found one on the internet yet. Any ideas please?

 

[Sue Wright]

Hi Kezza,

It was so god to hear of a happy ending with the poor little mite, what some luck that you were there though. I've heard of it before with Greenfinches, it's not common but just goes to show that it can happen easily.

I've just had a quick scout round but can't see one with a metal lid so far, but will try again. Good luck and yes, wrist (or carpal joint) is the word to describe it. Well done Kezza, you did him proud....him you too by the sounds of it!!!

Sue.

 

[Chickadeedeedee]

Oh, Kezza! Good that you were near by! He might have broken his wing had you not stepped in.

We had a bird feeder that had glass panes on two sides and the center was divided by a piece of wood. There was a roof and a nice perching area for the finches and sparrows to rest while eating. To my horror, one day I found that a Red Finch had somehow worked his way under the glass on one side of the feeder and become trapped mid chest!

That is how he died! How horrible! It was a beautiful feeder and we thought well designed. After the Finch was buried, the feeder went into the trash, but was broken into bits in case anyone thought it may be reused in their garden.

Somehow our birdy friends seem to be able to get themselves in trouble, don't they?

L.

 

[Mary Evelyn]

Hi Kezza so pleased you were able you were able to save the poor thing.

My fat ball feeder is all metal and is quite popular.
Had to edit here as the top on mine is plastic but i haven't had any problems nor have the other people who use them.

 

[Wendy Morris]

Hi Kezza,

Glad that you were able to help the little fella, but they do get in to some fixes don't they? I had a young starling in the summerhouse earlier in the week and he was bashing himself against the windows in a desperate attempt to get out. Should say here that both the doors were wide open at the time, which was how he had got in in the first place! I put my gardening gloves on hoping that I might be able to catch him, but it seems as though my presence in there made hime realise how he could get out....and off he went, apparently unscathed.

Fat ball holders....I get mine from Haiths and although the lids are plastic, the way they are attached to the wire on the sides means there is little chance that they will break easily. I've had mine several years now with no problems. Google the name and you will get their website.

 

[Pam_m]

Well done Kezza:clap: :clap:

 

[pie]

Hi Kezza,
Phew, well saved & talk about ungrateful! lol!
I have saved all sorts of broken feeders in the hope that one part will fit another but they never do. All the damage to my feeders are caused by squirrels. I always end up buying new. grrr!
Well done on the rescue Kezza & good luck with your search.

 

[NIK III]

Well done Kezza. I like these happy ending stories. I bet you felt really good when it flew away, despite it's only expression of gratitude being to leave you a little deposit. I use those pear shaped ones that gather at the top, no lids. They don't hold as much of course. I've not had any problems with it yet. I can't remember even seeing a bird alight on it. They feed from the branch it hangs next to.

 

[Kezza]

Thanks everyone. I haven't managed to find one with a metal lid, except one that just holds two balls. This simply wouldn't be big enough! I've bought another plastic lidded one for now, like the Haiths one. The other did last three years before the Starlings finished it off. Just worries me what may happen if this one suddenly breaks too and I'm not around to help.

 

[bill moss]

Hi Kezza,

Well done to save the stupid little perisher (well they ARE). My fat-ball holder is like Wendy's, from Haiths, and I get the big boys climbing all over it (Corvids) and so far it's been fine; worth a try.

Alternatively switch to a flat all-metal feeder and use the rectangular 'suet blocks'

Just looking in the Haiths catalogue they have a new stainless-steel tubular feeder with holes cut in it, holds 5 balls; it has plastic top and bottom but it looks very sturdy and is supposed to be Squirrel-Proof.

Bill

 

[Kezza]

Thanks for looking Bill. I noticed that one yesterday but was worried they would get their heads stuck in the round holes! I'm sure Haiths know best and this is most unlikely to happen though, I'm just paranoid now.

 

[lapwing1]

Hi Kezza,

I had exactly the same happen in my garden last year, an adult starling completely trapped upside down inside the fatball feeder. The starling had started to panic and had one wing and legs protruding from the cage. We had to cover the bird and feeder with a towel, lift it down, cut and prise the feeder open to free the bird, thankfully the starling flew off unharmed but my heart was in my mouth.

I wrote to the company who I bought the feeder from and they then wrote as many people as they could who had purchased this type of feeder warning of the danger. I now have one with a metal lid that is secured on with no incidents so far.

It certainly gives you a fright and I'm glad your starling was fine too.

 

[Kezza]

Goodness me, that's just like our incident, thank goodness they both survived.

Do you recall where you purchased your metal lidded one please?

 

[Judo]

Hi Kezza,
How fortunate you were there!! lucky for the Starling too!! Well done on the successful release.
I have a metal-lidded fatball feeder,(the ones with plastic lids too, which I will check very carefully!) and as far as I remember, I bought it from Bridgemere Garden World, don't know if they still have them as it was a few years ago now, but I'll be visiting there soon, I can check for you if you'd like me to??
All the Best Kezza,

 

[Kezza]

Hi Judo, Thank you for offering, but I've just this minute found one here:

http://www.wildbird.org/product.asp...ords=&strSearchCriteria=&PT_ID=108&P_ID=1281#

which I may get, not sure yet. Downside is the £5 postage! But perhaps I can buy a few more things to make it worthwhile and at least I won't be worrying about them.

Good of you to offer though, I'll let you know if I don't have success with the wildbird one.
Many thanks.

 

[bill moss]

Hi Kezza,

I take your point, especially after seeing this yesterday! But I imagine that the holes in the fat-ball feeder are much smaller.

By the way, don't worry about the Tit, here he was a moment or two later. He's got at least one juv flittering around but I can't get a photo!

Bill

 

[Kezza]

Well Bill you know that's the problem with mixed seed, the tastiest bits are always right in the middle and just out of reach!

Lucky you having a Coal Tit family. They seem very uncommon around here with just one in the winter, if we're lucky that is. Good luck with the photos!

I'm relieved to say our mass of Starlings have moved on now! We have only five or so now. Wonder whose garden they're invading now!?

 

[Cosworthlady]

Might be worth checking poundstretchers. I bought my fat ball feeders from there and they have metal lids.

 

[lapwing1]

Hi Kezza, I bought my new one from a local Garden Centre up here in Aberdeenshire, the metal lid is secured on to the hanging piece so that it cannot be unclipped like some of the plastic ones (like the one I used to have) and it pushes onto the top of the feeder, even if they dislodge the lid, it can't come off and they can't get inside. Sorry I can't be of more help!!

 

[Kezza]

Thank you Cosworth Lady and Lapwing I'll get one next week then when I'm in a larger town. Our shops don't have many bird items.