European starlings entering starling resistant guords

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Ammonite in KY
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Mar 20, 2012 10:10 am
Location: Allensville, KY
Martin Colony History: I began in 2008 and slowly built up the number of guords that we have. We have 36 guords now and this year (2016) almost all are in use.

I am having a lot more trouble with starlings. There are females that can enter the starling resistant guords (Troyer guords). The males sit on the perches watching the females build the nest. I'm afraid they are keeping away the purple martins because of their size and number. I have tried to shoot them but they are too smart and know that I'm there. Plus I'm not a great shot.
I guess I have to just to rip out the nest often but I don't know that will deter them. Will it?
Any other advice?
Debbie
Hoping I'm doing the right thing for the PUMA. It's a struggle for them to find enough to eat when you are surrounded by ag fields. I try to tell myself they need a place to nest but the last few years their success rate has been low.
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jhcox
Posts: 801
Joined: Thu May 26, 2016 9:23 am
Location: tennesse
Martin Colony History: Started colony in 2014. 0 pairs
2015 0 pairs
2016 0 pairs
2017 0 pairs but visitors
2018 1 pair fledged 5
2019 10 pair
2020 25 pair
2021 42 Pair
2022 60 Pair
2023 72 Pair
2024 74 pair
2025 78 pair

There are several types of ground traps that you can purchase that work well. You should be able to find them on amazon.. good luck
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Bird Brain
Posts: 327
Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2016 9:22 am
Location: Highland Village, TX
Martin Colony History: 2022-visitors, 2023-visitors, 2024-1 pair, fledged 4, 2025-10 pair, fledged 42

If you're not a good shot, you might consider .22 rat shot. It spreads like a shot gun. Hard to miss your target. Not sure how much damage it will do to housing though.
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scottfreidhof
Posts: 348
Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:13 am
Location: Kentucky/Morehead

I would clean out the nests. If trapping and shooting prove to be difficult, you might have success forcing the starlings to abandon your site just with your presence. This practice worked again for me back in March here at my home colony where I am able to do it. A pair of starlings claimed one of the gourd racks prior to the return of any martins. When I was home and the starlings landed on a gourd rack, I walked outside and towards the gourd rack until the starlings were forced to fly off. I forced the starlings off the gourd rack like this several times on a Saturday and Sunday morning and occasionally on a work morning. It took less than a week of this and the starlings abandoned my site. I'm dealing with country starlings who are wary of people rather than city starlings who may be accustomed to people in close proximity.
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flyin-lowe
Posts: 3788
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

I've tried the rat shot 22 shells before and you have to be so close to the target with them to do damage the starlings would be long gone. Troyers makes a simple trap that is made for their gourds. If shooting is not an option that is about your only choice. Some times early in the year they are skinny coming out of winter and can get past the entrances. I have been using crescent and conley II SREH for many years and only had a handfull of breaches.
2026 HOSP 26
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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