Get Rid of Starlings

Starlings, also known as European starlings, are small- to medium-size birds that can live all over the United States, due to their ability to adapt to all climates. They gather in large flocks of thousands and are very aggressive, fiercely defending their nests. Due to the enormous flocks, starlings pose a serious safety hazard at airports. They transmit bacterial diseases and spread fowl pox to poultry and other livestock. Farmers suffer severe losses in animal feed and crops each month due to starling consumption and contamination. Getting rid of starlings is not easy, but you can do it.

Steps

 * 1) Cover all possible food sources, including fruit trees, grapes, berries, corn and grain piles. Starlings will not stay where there isn't any food.
 * 2) Keep starlings out of your feeders by using domed roofs and tubular feeders. You can also replace seed that starlings love with seed they won't eat. Replace sunflower seed with safflower seed. Cardinals and Finches enjoy safflower just as much as sunflower seed.
 * 3) Get rid of all standing water in buckets, containers or birdbaths until the starlings move on.
 * 4) Eliminate starlings with owl, hawk and osprey sounds. Play these recorded predator sounds for about half an hour several times a day. Begin this practice in early May and continue it until after the harvest.
 * 5) Use a predator sonic repellent to get rid of starlings. Sonic repellents emit sounds mimicking predators and distressed birds.
 * 6) Scare starlings away with a bird squawker. These work similar to the sonic repellents but have additional features. Squawkers reproduce the distress cries of a variety of birds, along with the sounds of predators and hunting sequences.
 * 7) Make frequent loud noises like banging on pots, clapping your hands or setting off firecrackers to rid starlings. Loud noises will cause starlings to scatter. If they return, repeat the process until they leave for good.
 * 8) Inspect your property on a regular basis for starling nests. Check your purple martin and birdhouses, and immediately remove the nests as soon as you discover them. Ideally, you will detect the nest long before the starlings lay their eggs.
 * 9) Prevent starlings from entering your home, garage, shed or other structures by filling or covering all openings. Install vent guards over the dryer vent and over all other exhaust vents.
 * 10) Talk to your local authorities if you have a starling problem with a large number of birds. City agencies may help by trapping and relocating these birds.

Tips

 * When purchasing a sonic repellent or a bird squawker, consider choosing a model that is easy to use with volume control.
 * Starlings love suet. To keep them away from the feed, use an upside-down suet feeder. Starlings will not eat upside down, but other birds will.
 * Try some of these methods to discourage starlings from staying nearby. People have had success in getting rid of starlings without harming, poisoning or shooting them.

Sources and Citations

 * http://www.startupbizhub.com/how-to-get-rid-of-starlings.htm
 * http://www.sialis.org/starlingbio.htm