First Starling

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LDCLSU
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:25 pm
Location: Louisiana/Meaux

Built a repeating Starling trap. Its been set up for a little over a week now. Caught my first Starling this morning. Felt like Christmas
2010- 8 pair
2011- 24 pair- 112 eggs- 103 fledge
2012- 40 pair- 147 eggs so far
PMAC Member
Don Strickland
Posts: 430
Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2010 4:38 pm
Location: Oklahoma/Shady Point

What plans did you use? Is it sensitive enough to catch a Sparrow? I need another one but would like to go a little different than the one I have.
Don
LDCLSU
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:25 pm
Location: Louisiana/Meaux

I used the plans from Chuck Abare's web site. I have only had it up for a week and haven't caught a sparrow yet. But the false floor is made out of thin metal flashing. Very light
2010- 8 pair
2011- 24 pair- 112 eggs- 103 fledge
2012- 40 pair- 147 eggs so far
PMAC Member
Don Strickland
Posts: 430
Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2010 4:38 pm
Location: Oklahoma/Shady Point

LDCLSU
That's the same plan I used. I also used thin aluminum to make the catch box. I had a lot of trouble setting the sensitivity but finally got there. I'm still catching and haven't had to do any maintenance yet. Mine will trip on Sparrows also. (an occasional Blue Bird, and caught one Martin.)
Thanks.
Don
OOOOPS, edit. I used Larry Melchers plans.
I know the one you're talking about though and plan to try and build one of those also.
Last edited by Don Strickland on Thu Mar 01, 2012 11:07 am, edited 3 times in total.
dsonyay
Posts: 1677
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
Location: Louisiana/Broussard
Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.

2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)

2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.

2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged

2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(

2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.

2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
2025: 14 pairs .. 69 eggs.

Checked your profile and didn't see what type of entrances you use. Are you using some sort of SREH?
LDCLSU
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:25 pm
Location: Louisiana/Meaux

David

Yes I have SREH on all my houses. Haven't had much problems with starlings entering my houses but they land on top my gourd racks and create havoc. I usually try and take them out with a BB gun but while I am at work the repeating house trap helps. I also have a bait repeating sparrow trap that works great on sparrows but wasn't helping with starlings.
2010- 8 pair
2011- 24 pair- 112 eggs- 103 fledge
2012- 40 pair- 147 eggs so far
PMAC Member
rrmartins
Posts: 1441
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:04 am
Location: Round Rock, TX

I shoot 3-4 a year and the rest leave. Its the rat birds I have to wage war against.
2021
T14
10 Pair
49 Fledged
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