European starlings are a non-native invasive species in the United States, having been introduced to New York in 1890 as part of a clumsy attempt to introduce every bird species William Shakespeare wrote about. Since starlings have fewer natural predators in the US, they are spreading uncontrollably, damaging environments and attacking native species. Their populations are particularly difficult to control due to their flying prowess, but steps can be taken to discourage them from invading your home or farm.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Eliminate Food and Water Sources
Step 1. Prevent starlings from eating livestock feed
Farms often attract these birds, as they can feed on the animal feed and spread disease to the animals. By using feed and feeding methods that don't attract starlings, you can try to keep them away from your farm.
- Get granular feed or large pellets (at least 1.25 cm in size), which are more difficult for birds to eat.
- Do not place pet food directly on the ground.
- Get bird-proof feeders. Many of these make noise periodically "rattling" or have covers that the birds cannot open.
- Feed your pets in a covered area, such as in the barn.
- Feed them in the evening or after sunset.
Step 2. Make your bird feeding techniques suitable only for small species
If you use bird feeders to attract songbirds to your yard, you may be annoyed by starlings eating all the feed you have prepared for other birds, as well as the fact that they may frighten them.
- Put a large net or cage around the feeders. Smaller songbirds will be able to penetrate through holes, but starlings will not.
- Cut the perches of the feeders very short, so that only small birds can perch on them.
- Get a feeder that requires birds to eat upside down - starlings don't like to eat this way.
- Don't put birdseed directly on the ground.
Step 3. Limit the amount of water in the troughs
Stagnant water should be drained or reduced to a level of at least 15cm below the rim of the container and the depth should be at least 7.5cm.
Step 4. Spray food sources with an anti-bird product
There are several types of sprays on the market that are safe for humans. This proves to be a particularly suitable solution if you have a crop that starlings like, such as grapes or berries.
- Try spraying methyl anthranilate, a grape flavoring, on food sources.
- Even a garlic-based oil can discourage them. Apply it to "bait feed", or spray it on or around potential food sources to encourage them to move elsewhere.
Method 2 of 4: Block Access to Preferred Nesting Areas
Step 1. Cover orchards or areas where they can nest with a mesh structure
A mesh that is too small for starlings to penetrate will prevent them from invading your orchard, while still allowing sunlight and less invasive birds to pass through.
- The practicality of this technique may vary depending on the size of the area you want to cover.
- Make sure you do proper net maintenance, as holes form can allow starlings to get past it.
- It may be necessary to cover the areas only for a limited period of time. Once the starlings move to a new area, they may never return, or you may find less extreme preventative measures.
Step 2. Prune trees in densely wooded areas
Starlings prefer to nest in areas where the trees are denser and closer together. If you want to find a long-term solution to discourage their presence, consider thinning out the trees on your property.
Step 3. Block openings larger than 2.5cm
Sometimes thick or quality material, such as sheet metal or industrial roofing of fans or chimneys, can be useful.
Step 4. Install pointed deterrents on areas where they tend to perch
Putting metal spikes along the cornices or ledges and in other areas where the starlings have started to settle is a way to discourage them and push them to seek other places.
Step 5. Install hanging panels on the ledges
Planks or other materials fixed at an angle of 45 degrees along the ledges and other areas where they rest, certainly discourage starlings, thanks to the uncomfortable angle. You can always remove them once the starlings have settled in a new territory.
Method 3 of 4: Scare the Starlings to Drive Them away
Step 1. Use sound aids to scare them
Although ultrasound audio systems are commercially available, their effectiveness is actually quite debated. Instead, old-fashioned speakers (preferably outdoors and waterproof) seem to perform better.
- Devices that emit a variety of sudden sounds, such as alarms, recordings of chirping birds in distress, or explosions, are more effective.
- Make sure the sounds are emitted at irregular rhythms and not in a predictable pattern.
- Frequently move the direction of the speakers or adjust the fading and interruption of the sound in the programming of the instrument, in order to change it in all possible ways.
- Even the sound of a gunshot can scare starlings and drive them away.
Step 2. Use some visual effects
You can create a variety of visual scare tactics that are even more effective than sounds. Some things you can try are balloons, even with the eyes of their predators painted on them, flashing lights, shimmering and / or reflective objects that move, and silhouettes of predators such as owls, hawks and foxes.
Make sure you move these visual devices often, so the birds don't get used to these structures
Step 3. Spray the birds with water
Spraying them sporadically with water is a humane way to scare them and get them to go elsewhere.
As with audio and video methods, so that the birds do not get used to the times, even the splashes of water must be sudden and not set with regular patterns
Step 4. Pair several repellents at the same time
The best way to scare them is to combine different techniques to make the habitat that birds have created on your property undesirable and uncomfortable, so that they decide to move to a safer place for them.
Step 5. Organize the "attacks" in the evening and in the morning
Most of your scare tactics should be put in place when the birds get ready for sleep in the evening. You can also launch an attack as a "reminder" in the morning when they leave the nest.
Method 4 of 4: Reduce Population
Step 1. Remove the nests
Although the best solution remains to preventively close all the areas where the starlings can create the nest, but if it has already been built, the only thing to do is to eliminate it.
Check your state's laws on this to see if you can disturb bird nests, especially those that have eggs. Although starlings are generally not a protected species, other birds are. Make sure it's really a starling nest before destroying it
Step 2. Set a trap
Be aware, however, that you need to know what to do with the birds once you have caught them. You will have to release them some distance from the trap site or you will have to find a way to eliminate them without hurting them. Your best bet remains to contact a pest management expert to try and get rid of the trapped birds.
Step 3. Hire a professional who can use chemicals to get rid of starlings
There is a specific product on the market that eliminates them, but it can only be used by a licensed professional. Call a specialized company to inquire about this type of treatment.
This technique should be implemented only after trying all the others, since it involves the use of a poisonous substance that is sprayed on your property
Step 4. Shoot the birds
Be sure to check local and state ordinances regarding hunting and / or shooting with rifles first. Often, shooting even just a few starlings can be a disincentive for other specimens and convince them to look for a safer place to settle. Even the simple sound of the shot can scare the birds.
- This should be considered an extreme measure and only implemented as a last resort.
- It is probably not a safe choice and perhaps not even a legal choice in urban areas. Get information from the competent public bodies.
Advice
- It is easier to remove a starling population from a newly formed habitat. Tackling the problem as it arises leads to more success than trying to remove a starling population that has already established and stabilized.
- Apply a combination of different methods all together for a week, especially in the evening. The birds should start moving to a new place.
Warnings
- As these birds are considered a real nuisance and invasive species, they are not protected animals in many areas. However, other birds are legally protected, so you need to be absolutely sure, and you should consult the state laws regarding bird control before taking any action against them.
- Be wary of any special spray products or devices that claim to repel birds. Before making expensive purchases, read online consumer reviews and comments to see if they are truly effective.
- Although controlling the starling population with physical elimination is an option, it is not necessarily the most effective. Finding ways to drive them away rather than kill them often proves more convenient.
