Do the folks with woodpecker housing have trouble with starlings?
I have an extra old house I'd like to put high up on a utility pole. Nest checks wouldn't be possible. I wouldn't be able to nest trap if starlings are a problem. I really don't have a starling problem but they are around.
How do you handle yours?
Peggy
Woodpeckers
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
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- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Peggy - YES - starlings plague our golden-fronted woodpeckers. We have a nest camera in ceiling of woodpecker box. I saw a starling jump in and attack woodpeckers on more than one occasion. The starling was very aggressive and the woodpecker fled, quite upset.
Our WP box is accessible, but mostly we focus on trapping & shooting starlings, so we don't have to try to trap them from the WP box. The WPs don't use it every year but we sure enjoy having them when they do. They sometimes roost in the box during colder weather.
Our WP box is accessible, but mostly we focus on trapping & shooting starlings, so we don't have to try to trap them from the WP box. The WPs don't use it every year but we sure enjoy having them when they do. They sometimes roost in the box during colder weather.
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Peggy Riley
- Posts: 885
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:21 pm
- Location: TX/Tolar
Thanks Louise, I was hoping the WP's would be more aggressive. I don't want to create more problems. We have plenty of natural cavities so I may just put it in the woods and see if I can get another pair of Great-crested Flycatchers.
I don't have a nest cam. There's no way I could of watched when I worked 50 miles from home. Maybe now that I'm not working I'll check them out.
Thanks! Peggy
I don't have a nest cam. There's no way I could of watched when I worked 50 miles from home. Maybe now that I'm not working I'll check them out.
Thanks! Peggy
Peggy you must be able to monitor your nestbox. I have a woodpecker couple that nests each year in my woodpecker housing. Housing must be filled with saw dust or pine shaving 75% of the way. First year i lost 3 eggs to starlings, i now trap with two box traps and actively snipe. If you do decide to trap make sure the trap is in view of the nestbox.
"We can judge the heart of man by his treatment of animals." - Immanual Kant.
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Peggy Riley
- Posts: 885
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:21 pm
- Location: TX/Tolar
Thanks Julio. I think I'll just stick to PM & BB's. I'm sure my husband would be less than pleased if I asked him to do nest checks on them. Sure wouldn't want to set them up to be attacked.
We have several red bellied pairs that come to the feeders. I see maybe one or two young ones learning to feed every year.
Peggy
We have several red bellied pairs that come to the feeders. I see maybe one or two young ones learning to feed every year.
Peggy
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
Peggy,
I once put up a large box for Kestrels (sparrow hawks) back in the 80's.
I got a nesting pair of them. Guess what tossed their eggs out and started building a nest. Yep starlings. I saw them do it.
I used to have a lot of bird boxes for everything. Including woodpeckers. Starlings won the battle every time. Now mainly SREH and smaller boxes.
My old kestrel house is now converted to a starling trap that works like a charm.
Doug
I once put up a large box for Kestrels (sparrow hawks) back in the 80's.
I got a nesting pair of them. Guess what tossed their eggs out and started building a nest. Yep starlings. I saw them do it.
I used to have a lot of bird boxes for everything. Including woodpeckers. Starlings won the battle every time. Now mainly SREH and smaller boxes.
My old kestrel house is now converted to a starling trap that works like a charm.
Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
Peggy
Heres a link to a Starling resistant Northern Flicker box.
http://www.shawcreekbirdsupply.com/star ... _house.htm
Starlings will sit and watch a woodpecker until they're done making their nest cavity and then take it over for themselves.
It might be something to try if you're serious about attracting WP's
Heres a link to a Starling resistant Northern Flicker box.
http://www.shawcreekbirdsupply.com/star ... _house.htm
Starlings will sit and watch a woodpecker until they're done making their nest cavity and then take it over for themselves.
It might be something to try if you're serious about attracting WP's
2013, back in the game with a pair at my satelite colony that has eggs due to hatch around July 7th
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Peggy Riley
- Posts: 885
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:21 pm
- Location: TX/Tolar
Thanks MB I'll take a look. Peggy