Protecting Native Birds From Starlings
Although starlings can be
interesting to watch in highly built-up areas where few other bird species thrive,
they are a serious problem in areas where native birds exist. These introduced
species compete with native, cavity nesting birds for nesting spots, which are
becoming increasingly less plentiful as trees are cut down.
Male starlings are especially aggressive in their search for nest sites: They will peck holes in eggs laid by other birds, throw out their nesting material, and kill their young. Starlings will build nests on top of existing nests containing eggs, and can evict the larger wood duck from its nest boxes.
To prevent problems:
Starlings eating fruits and vegetables: A small flock of starlings can quickly ruin or remove the year’s fruit or young vegetable crop.
Protect fruit crops with flexible bird netting, which can be purchased in a variety of lengths and widths at garden and hardware stores; professional quality materials and hardware are available from bird-control companies and over the Internet. Secure the base of the shrub or the tree to prevent starlings from gaining access from below. Individual small branches containing fruit can be protected with an onion sack or similar mesh covering.
Row crops, such as strawberries, can be completely covered during the fruiting season. If the netting is to be used for several harvest seasons, it may be worth the extra effort to construct a frame to support the netting.
Scare devices, such as pie tins and commercially available Mylar balloons or Mylar scare tape, are known to provide temporary protection. Suspend balloons at least 3 feet above trees or bushes, or from lines between posts. Use tethers at least 3 feet long.
Attach special red and silver bird-scare tape to stakes and stretch it 18 inches above the areas that need protection. Twist the tape several times before attaching it to stakes so that the visible interval of red/silver is 16 inches. The tape should move freely, so that when a slight breeze blows it will flash in the sun. The space between tapes will have to be no more than 5 feet to be effective.
Because most birds will fly into a strawberry patch, land on the ground between the plants and eat the ripe strawberries from there, scare devices placed above the patch are not effective. Instead, place the scare tape between the rows. The tape should sag slightly but should not be less than 3 inches or more than 5 inches from the ground.
Scare devices need to be moved weekly (daily if possible) so birds don’t become accustomed to them; they are also most successful if put in place before the birds become a problem. Always harvest ripe fruit immediately.
Protect germinating corn plants and other crops with bird netting until plants are about 8 inches tall. Large plastic trash bags attached to 6 to 7 foot wooden stakes, along with the above-mentioned scare tactics, can be used in areas with lots of air movement. Cracker shells and propane cannons may be needed in larger plantings. Ultrasonic devices are not effective at frightening starlings.
Male starlings are especially aggressive in their search for nest sites: They will peck holes in eggs laid by other birds, throw out their nesting material, and kill their young. Starlings will build nests on top of existing nests containing eggs, and can evict the larger wood duck from its nest boxes.
To prevent problems:
- Don’t attract starlings.
- Install nest boxes designed to exclude starlings. Many native songbirds can use an entry hole smaller than the 11/2 inches needed by starlings. Be alert to hole enlargement by flickers and rodents, and replace or add a new front with the proper hole size. To reduce the size of an existing entry hole, attach a piece of wood to the front of the existing box and drill the appropriate size hole. File down all rough edges. It is also possible to buy a pre-drilled metal plate that can be attached over the entry to a nest box.
- Don’t install nest boxes that have perches. Perches are used by starlings, but are not necessary for native species.
- When observing a starling building a nest in a nest box, repeatedly remove the nesting material, or plug the entry hole for a few days or longer to prevent them from entering. Carefully monitor the box throughout the breeding season for use by starlings.
- If starlings have laid eggs in a nest box, vigorously shake the eggs and return them to the nest. The adults will incubate them, but the eggs will not hatch. Because state and federal laws don’t protect these birds, it is legal to remove their nests and destroy the eggs or the birds themselves.
- Clean out nest boxes each year. When not cleaned out, birds will build new nests on top of old ones. This raises the new nest close enough to the entry hole so starlings or other predators can pull out the occupants.
Starlings eating fruits and vegetables: A small flock of starlings can quickly ruin or remove the year’s fruit or young vegetable crop.
Protect fruit crops with flexible bird netting, which can be purchased in a variety of lengths and widths at garden and hardware stores; professional quality materials and hardware are available from bird-control companies and over the Internet. Secure the base of the shrub or the tree to prevent starlings from gaining access from below. Individual small branches containing fruit can be protected with an onion sack or similar mesh covering.
Row crops, such as strawberries, can be completely covered during the fruiting season. If the netting is to be used for several harvest seasons, it may be worth the extra effort to construct a frame to support the netting.
Scare devices, such as pie tins and commercially available Mylar balloons or Mylar scare tape, are known to provide temporary protection. Suspend balloons at least 3 feet above trees or bushes, or from lines between posts. Use tethers at least 3 feet long.
Attach special red and silver bird-scare tape to stakes and stretch it 18 inches above the areas that need protection. Twist the tape several times before attaching it to stakes so that the visible interval of red/silver is 16 inches. The tape should move freely, so that when a slight breeze blows it will flash in the sun. The space between tapes will have to be no more than 5 feet to be effective.
Because most birds will fly into a strawberry patch, land on the ground between the plants and eat the ripe strawberries from there, scare devices placed above the patch are not effective. Instead, place the scare tape between the rows. The tape should sag slightly but should not be less than 3 inches or more than 5 inches from the ground.
Scare devices need to be moved weekly (daily if possible) so birds don’t become accustomed to them; they are also most successful if put in place before the birds become a problem. Always harvest ripe fruit immediately.
Protect germinating corn plants and other crops with bird netting until plants are about 8 inches tall. Large plastic trash bags attached to 6 to 7 foot wooden stakes, along with the above-mentioned scare tactics, can be used in areas with lots of air movement. Cracker shells and propane cannons may be needed in larger plantings. Ultrasonic devices are not effective at frightening starlings.
This information was provided by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Russell Link, and Michael Holmquist
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