Starlings Control
Starlings have strong feet, they have a quick, direct flight and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is quite open country, and insects and fruit are eaten. Several species live and are essentially omnivores around human habitation. Many species search for prey such as grubs by “open-bill probing,” that is, forcefully opening the bill after inserting it into a crevice, expanding the hole and exposing the prey; the German verb zirkeln refers to this behavior. Plumage of many species is typically dark with a metallic sheen. Most species nest in holes and lay blue or white eggs.
Nests in the construction of cavities and ventilations
Starlings will use any hole they can get into if it leads to a cavity that is of the appropriate size. Good for washing, grill, and bathroom vents. A vent with a metal flap may not deter them: they can hover or perch while raising the flap to get into vents. Vents with inside nests may not work properly. This can be inconvenient or, in some cases, unsafe. The nesting material may need to be removed immediately.
Young starlings often get caught in the clouds, dropping into open spaces that they cannot avoid. This could be particularly true for exhaust vents in microwaves and stove hoods. You may need to remove the hood or microwave to help a starling out of one of those vents, so you might want to call a professional.
Why Starlings Can Be a Problem
- Noise: Starlings in their vocal repertoire have loud, raspy screeches and squawks, with no sense of musical harmony that might otherwise make their sounds more pleasing. The vocalizations of both adults and juveniles can be insistent, keeping the cacophony for long periods of time.
- Flocks: The starlings are very gregarious and form large flocks throughout the year. Even when many birds are naturally territorial and solitary in the midst of the breeding season, starlings may congregate in flocks of hundreds or thousands. Such large flocks can easily overpower a bird feeding station and usurp food from any other bird that might visit, taking out a major bite from a bird feeding budget. Aggression: These are naturally aggressive birds that won’t hesitate to injure or kill other birds as they seek out the best food sources and nesting sites. This can devastate more timid bird species and has had drastic effects on populations of some North American native birds, such as eastern bluebirds and purple martins.
- Fertility: Starlings are fast, fertile breeders, with a single pair raising 2-3 broods each year, with 5-8 new starlings for each brood to join the flock. This tremendous population growth can lead starlings to rapidly overtake native species, and to extreme competition for limited resources.
- Habitat Preferences: Starlings prefer open grassy habitats, making them ideal areas for suburban lawns, parks, sports fields and golf courses; This preference brings them even faster near bird feeders and houses, allowing them to take over resources intended for other bird species.
Starling Prevention
Starlings in search of food arrive on our property. If you don’t want starlings to live on your house, it’s best not to let them have food out. Keep in mind that what these birds perceive as food is different from what you would eat. They are very happy to feed on things inside your garbage. Be sure to keep all trash secured in sealed containers.
Starlings are territorial birds. Once they choose your property, they will be hard to get rid of. But, before they settle in, it is possible to scare them away with loud or disturbing noises. Trapping methods are also a successful solution for settled Starlings that are unwanted. These traps are checked daily and are placed with fresh food and water in prominent areas to get the bird’s attention. Once the bird has been caught it is handled humanely and is gently removed off site and to another location.
Before a starling roosts, it will perch on horizontal surfaces. Your goal should be to make those surfaces undesirable. This can be done with wire, birds spikes, or some other physical deterrent.
Pest Control Service
Permits are required for the use of traps, so if a woodpecker issue is suspected it is advised to contact a licensed pest control professional. Advance Pest Control deals with all kinds of pest infestations. A team of specialists ensure that all necessary control methods are used to handle woodpeckers in compliance with the federal law.