Starlings
Scientific Name: Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus (Family Sturnidae)
Starling Biology
Nest Encroachment: Starlings have been reported to dump eggs into the nests
of Bluebirds. This activity can help contribute to the decline of the Bluebird
species in the U.S.
Legal Status: No Federal protections as they are an introduced species
(ie. Starlings are not a species native to the U.S.) Your state may have its
own protections.
Manual for Bird Control (professional exclusion
equipment installation guide)
Starling Sign
The photo to the right is a typical example of a starling nest inside of a house attic.
Yes, they do grow over time to become several feet high. Wildlife Damage Control thanks
Lowell Leemkuil of Sherlock Home Inspectors for granting permission to use this photo.
Before Removing A Nest
There are two sorts of dangers when handling birds. The first is the ectoparasites
that can exist in and around the bird and its habitat. These can be often killed
with pesticides or prevented with appropriate protective clothing. The second
danger consists of various diseases. You should always wear an appropriately
fitted HEPA filter maks (at minimum) before any bird nest removal in your attic
or property. While statistically speaking the risks are small. Statistics don't
matter if you are infected. You can also consult our disease
page
Starlings enter and build nests in bathroom exhaust vents and dryer vents.
Once inside the process to get them removed can be complicated, especially if
there are young involved. However, you can prevent this from happening by installing
a vent guard. The vent guard is a low cost,
easy to install product that will protect your vents from bird entry.
Starling Winter Activity
Starlings, like crows, congregate together during cold weather. These congregations
can be
enormous. Here is a photo of a number of birds of a feather flocking together.
These gatherings can be dispersed using a variety of methods including lethal
control. (photo by Stephen
Vantassel)
Starling Control
Non-lethal Starling Control
Repellents and Starlings
Jerrold Belant, Paul Woronecki,
Richard Dolbeer, and Thomas Seamans published a study in the Wildlife Society
Bulletin 1998 26(2): 264-268. Entitled "Ineffectiveness of five commercial
deterrents or nesting starlings". Essentially their study took a 81 nesting
boxes and tested the effectiveness of phenethyl alcohol, eye spots, magnetic
fields and effigies. Essentially, they found that none of these products worked.
However, you may want to know that starlings can smell. There were a few caveats
to their conclusion.
First, they theorized
that the products may have worked if they were tested on an area that the starlings
were not as attracted too. Housing is a pretty desirable asset. In Bird Barrier
terms, housing is a high pressure site. They also wondered if the deterrent
devices were used in combinations, whether the results would have been better.
Conclusion, the search continues for an effective repellent for starlings.
Until then, continue using exclusion devices.
Chemical Fogging
There is a chemical fogger on the market that can be used to disperse bird
roosts. The fog repellent uses the same principal ingredient as grape soda and
bubble gum, which is distasteful to starlings and causes them to move elsewhere.
(Source INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ Jan 15, 2003) While I hear it has
been very effective, interested individuals should consider the possible fall
out when/if the fog is pushed by the wind into a residential area or a crowd
of people.
Lethal Control
Trapping Starlings 
Bibliography
Nebraska
Extension Information on Starling Control (farmers take note)
   
Disclaimer: WDC seeks to provide accurate, effective and responsible information
on resolving human/wildlife conflicts. We welcome suggestions, criticisms to
help us achieve this goal. The information provided is for informational purposes
only and users of the information use it at their own risk. The reader must
consult state/federal officials to determine the legality of any technique in
the reader's locale. Some techniques are dangerous to the user and to others.
WDC encourages readers to obtain appropriate training (see our informational
literature at our Store ), and understand that proper animal damage
control involves patience, understanding that not every technique/method works
for every situation or even 100% of the time. Your use of this information is
governed by this understanding.
We welcome potential users of the information
and photos to simply ask for permission via e-mail. Finally, WDC welcomes
e-mail but understand that all e-mails become property of Wildlife Damage Control.
3/8/04
| 
