Starlings not all bad

[lwilg]

Cooper's hawks regularly pass through my yard and I have seen them catch 2 martins. The other night I was sitting on the back porch when I heard starlings give their danger call and all the martins took off rapidly. A split second later the hawk came by, but the martins had all left in time to escape. Since the SREHs control the starlings for me, I am not so concerned about them if they serve to warn the martins at times about approaching hawks

[Guest]

Perhaps it could be stated that the AIDS virus isn't all bad either.

I think, though I do what I believe to avoid it, that we may be better off without it.

As a nurse, I have seen many people suffer as a result of AIDS. Most those suffering were not those infected, nor did they take the actions which brought the AIDS virus to their family.

God bless America. I totally respect your right to your opinion. I just think that this view should be thought about a little longer. It is not only the martins that the starlings affect.

Les

[Guest]

Say what?

[Sparky]

As Frankenstein's Monster would say. "Starling bad". "Not good for martin". "Have mocking bird around, good!"

[stan davison]

I have to agree with the poster. I have all sreh entrances and no trouble with starlings. There are starlings nesting in a neighbors roof and the hawk signals and calls the starlings give have saved my martins on many occasions.

[RC Moser]

Actually starlings are notorious yard cleaners in more ways than one. they clean you yard of martins, clean your yard of insects and ticks. and make good moving target practice from the back porch. So I guess you could say in a weird way they aren't all back!?!

O they also make nice Long range targets also well if you call 200 yards long.

[Matt F.]

Actually starlings are notorious yard cleaners in more ways than one. they clean you yard of martins, clean your yard of insects and ticks. and make good moving target practice from the back porch. So I guess you could say in a weird way they aren't all back!?!

O they also make nice Long range targets also well if you call 200 yards long.

Now that's a setup R.C.!

You could hit a starling from 400 yards out, in a heavy crosswind, with that unit......

[John Miller]

Lwig..the park where I manage martin housing is swirling in starlings. I often joke (but serious) that at least I hope they keep the Cooper's Hawks fed.

John

[Guest]

So because starlings dont bother your colony they arent bad anymore? I dont want hawks attacking my martins either, but knowing what I know now, I will never knowingly let a starling anywhere near my place.

I have Blue Jays here, who actually say "hawk" when a hawk is around.
Mockers are also good here, but the crows nesting across the field are my #1 ally. They torment the hawks relentlessly, I just hope they keep it up.

I still say starlings are the scourge of the bird world. One day there wont be any woodpeckers,or flickers, and without cavity excavators, all native cavity nesting birds will eventually disappear.

I doubt we can teach woodpeckers to carve SREH.

[Sparky]

I doubt we can teach woodpeckers to carve SREH.

WV
Good one. How true and sad at the same time.

[Guest]

I have all sreh but will shoot all the starlings that I can. But there not all bad, Just think what they do for the pellet gun sales.

[Donnie Hurdt MN]

Ahhh Haa! now I know why the starlings and sparrows were introduced into this country! The guys that buought them here had shares in Ammo companies!
I do agree though, that starling will pick a lawn clean of various grubs and incets, but I have a lot of other birds around to do the same job which are a lot better to look at.

[Julio]

In addition to what everyone here is posting, have you considered how bad starlings are to native cavity nesters in the US and Canada. Whole species are endangered or threatened as a result of the starling, birds like red cockated woodpeckers, BB, Flickers, GCF, and many others that were abundant and easy to spot in your own backyard are now gone as a result of the European Starling. Native cavity nesters run from starlings as though they are the plague, these birds are vile here in the states and Canada and menace. Stop for once and think outside of the small martin colony box for a bit.

[Guest]

In addition to what everyone here is posting, have you considered how bad starlings are to native cavity nesters in the US and Canada. Whole species are endangered or threatened as a result of the starling, birds like red cockated woodpeckers, BB, Flickers, GCF, and many others that were abundant and easy to spot in your own backyard are now gone as a result of the European Starling. Native cavity nesters run from starlings as though they are the plague, these birds are vile here in the states and Canada and menace. Stop for once and think outside of the small martin colony box for a bit.

YeeeaYeeea, thats what im talking about right there dogg.

[Guest]

None of us WANTS them, but

All of us HAVE them, so

Make the best of a bad situation, and

Thank them for their hawk warning,

On the way to get your gun.

Annie Oakley

[starling shooter]

I completely agree with the original poster!

Starlings are FAR more vigilant than PMs. They ALWAYS give the warning call first and the PMs bolt for the skies.

I have a SK starling house....you know te kind with the huge round hole copartments in the attic. I allow starlings to nest in them and before fledging, remove them.

If you have hawks, you should consider allowing the starlings to nest nearby. They are a GREAT early warning system.

[Guest]

Like the old addage: A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.

I personally like all the wildlife around instead of the starlings. It is not a tough decision for me. Starlings and many other pecies simply do not co-exist (for long).

Of course, if all these 1st alert starlings are such hawk bait, it could be argued that having them around is simply feeding the hawks so the hawks stick around for the meal. Or would that just give more opportunity for martins to be eaten.

I think that it is a feeble arguement to have hawks around for the martins. Kind of like drinking gasoline because it will kill intestinal parasites.

I would be interested to hear Steve Kroenke's opinion.

Les

[KathyF]

I doubt we can teach woodpeckers to carve SREH.

Every time I see one - just flying by or sitting in a nearby tree - doesn't even have to be on my housing, I kill it. After watching the video of the starling killing the martins, I've learned to be pro-active rather than reactive now. Sorry, but it's like swimming with sharks and hoping they eat you last.

BTW, you *do* know that there are reports of smaller sized starlings breaching crescents, don't you?