My Resident Starling

[Chriscreole]

My Resident Starling; Even though they reek havoc on our Martins, they are still very colorful birds. I caught it having a fit and just SCREAMING at the top of it lungs over something. I haven't had any issues with Starlings this year, they know they can't breach the Conley 2 entrance so they just don't bother.

[Guest]

Good photography BUT it would have been much better if the last photo showed it getting shot and feathers flying! The only good HOSP/Starling are dead ones.

[Chriscreole]

I have those but to graphic to post, my offend some.

[bacato]

Saving him for the new Benjamin?

[lcline85]

Wow he is pretty. I dont have a problem with starlings in my house. Only house sparrows. I know the starlings are close by in the natural caveties though and I think about how this its even worse for the native cavity nesters that depend on those caveties.

[Chriscreole]

Saving him for the new Benjamin?

Most of the Starlings are not that colorful but if he bugs my Martins, he is history, just like this one......



Note this Starling is a little smaller than the more colorful one and he could not get in the Conley entrance, we watched him try every gourd on the rack. Again those are 3 1/2" wide boards.

[johnnycoon]

Junk bird Bang!!! i absolutely think i will lose my mind if i see another one of those junkies!!!BUt a good picture!

[Dan Clodfelter]

It's amazing how much my blood pressure went up just seeing the starling photo ! @ my place the starling doesnt get a chance to sing before he has a 204 ruger bullet go through him @ 4250 Feet per second !

[Bob Fraser]

Chris - they can and do breach the Conley II entrances. A lot of us have experienced that this year.

[Chriscreole]

Chris - they can and do breach the Conley II entrances. A lot of us have experienced that this year.

I hear reports of breaches all the time and I belive it. They just haven't done it hear (yet). Belive me If I have the opportunity to take them out I will.

I guess the Starlings around here are much bigger than other areas because when I first put up the housing, I watched several different Starling Species try for days on end to get in these gourds and they could not get in, The starlings around here are as big as a Grackle's less the big tail feathers. They don't even land on the housing and since I took one out in frount of a flock of them they tend to avoid my yard.

To give you an Idea the size of this one in the picture, those are 6" wide fence boards. The 3rd picture down, the darker fence is 3 1/2" fence board. like the picture looking through the rifle scope .

[John Miller]

Nice clear photos. I was asking the other day about sexing starlings, and someone said the males have a gray or blue area at the base of the bill, which can be seen in your photos. the females are pink or reddish...I think.

There are so many starlings in metro St. Louis -- it's disturbing. In Forest Park, the park leaves some old dead trees for wildlife. Woodpeckers excavate many cavities, but may only nest successfully by about late June, when starlings are finished. Otherwise, starlings overtake all newly excavated holes. I see just a few red headed woodpeckers in the park -- one of my favorite birds -- I think they just barely hang on.

We've kicked around the idea of plating over some old woodpecker holes with SREH plates, but have not done it. Probably squirrels would enlarge them right away.

John M

[Eyestothesky2]

Most hideous bird EVER! If you've ever witnessed what they can do to our martins and other native birds, you would understand. AMEN hat1978. The only good starling is a DEAD starling!

[Chriscreole]

Most hideous bird EVER! If you've ever witnessed what they can do to our martins and other native birds, you would understand. AMEN hat1978. The only good starling is a DEAD starling!

Understand what? I posted a picture of a Starling that shows how colorfull they are and you act like I commited a crime or something.

I have witness it first hand, I watched a Starling drag my first male martin half way out of the cresent opening and was held down and pecked to death before I could rescue him. see my first post in 2010 for pictures of the damage. I don't like them any more than anyone else and I destroy S&S every chance i get.

In Hutto we get fined if we get caught using anything that can launch a projectile because thats the city orrdanance. So all I can do is hope my Repeating trap gets them. I'm buying a Benjamam Maruder this week, soposto be real quiet, well see, HOSP is my big problem.

It's just a photo, get over it.

[rrmartins]

Did we strike a nerve here or what. Just shoot it neighbor and post the pic of the dead bloody beast. LOL

[Chriscreole]

Did we strike a nerve here or what. Just, shoot it or and post the pic of the dead bloody beast. LOL

I can't just shoot it, it's against the law to shoot a BB gun, cant afford the fine or risk them confiscating the gun

[ToyinPA]

PMCA nest box trap & a yank of the neck later

Toy in PA

[jr 2]

here they can't get in my cresent and clinger entrance but they are reaching in the compartments[ martins are too] and getting the wheat straw that i have for nest material and they are getting it off the ground where i have it; jr2

[Ken&Sheryle - TX]

Okay, WOW...GREAT PICTURES of the Starling.....We (my husband and I) are wondering what camera and LENS you are using for such AWESOME shots. Glad you don't have any issues with them...honestly when we see one in our backyard they're gone...I just get a creepy feeling when they're in our backyard.

:)Sheryle


P.S. We don't have much issues with starlings..it's those darn sparrows....I think of course due to the SREH, that helps a bunch. Again, LOVE YOUR PICS, very clear...and professional!!

[AvianStewardess]

You might try a sling shot with a bag of landscaping river pebbles. With SREH and me pestering them every morning and evening when they are most actively trying, the slingshot has been enough thus far...haven't had one come near in five days...but still taking shots at them in the trees.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

In all of my years of hosting martins, I never have heard of using a sling shot before...I am thrilled to see it working for you! How can anyone say that there is something wrong with your method if it works for you? I just hope that you are serious....