. I've been tearing out the nests, but they just build a new one. I've noticed there are no sparrows around because I think they're afraid of the starlings. I had planned to wait until the starlings lays all of its eggs and then throw the nest and eggs out of the gourd. But, I'm concerned the house sparrows will return (they threw the eggs out of one of the purple martin's nest last year). Also it seems like a pair of purple martins may be interested in the other Conley ll gourd which is on the same rack. Will the starlings attack the martins if I let them stay and raise their brood? I'm wondering if they will become more protective once the eggs are hatched. Any thoughts on this?Conley ll tunnel gourd - Starling
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purplemartin111
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2026 1:05 pm
- Location: Maryland
Hello - I have 2 Conley ll gourds with sreh on my gourd rack. Unfortunately, a pair of starlings have built a nest in one of them . I've been tearing out the nests, but they just build a new one. I've noticed there are no sparrows around because I think they're afraid of the starlings. I had planned to wait until the starlings lays all of its eggs and then throw the nest and eggs out of the gourd. But, I'm concerned the house sparrows will return (they threw the eggs out of one of the purple martin's nest last year). Also it seems like a pair of purple martins may be interested in the other Conley ll gourd which is on the same rack. Will the starlings attack the martins if I let them stay and raise their brood? I'm wondering if they will become more protective once the eggs are hatched. Any thoughts on this?
. I've been tearing out the nests, but they just build a new one. I've noticed there are no sparrows around because I think they're afraid of the starlings. I had planned to wait until the starlings lays all of its eggs and then throw the nest and eggs out of the gourd. But, I'm concerned the house sparrows will return (they threw the eggs out of one of the purple martin's nest last year). Also it seems like a pair of purple martins may be interested in the other Conley ll gourd which is on the same rack. Will the starlings attack the martins if I let them stay and raise their brood? I'm wondering if they will become more protective once the eggs are hatched. Any thoughts on this?-
h2y
- Posts: 56
- Joined: Sat Mar 04, 2023 3:34 am
- Location: La Grange, TX
- Martin Colony History: est. 2001.
336 6x12" suites; 8"x5' duct
pipe snake guards; nest 15'
poles to 9'. Pre-spray Bifen
inside houses each year; pre-
load "bedrooms" with pine
needles. Feed crows for hawk
control; Tempo dust for mites.
The ruthless, dominant starling must be eliminated immediately. They will ruin the PM eggs and savagely kill the chicks and adults. I've shot 5 in the last 5 days but they are tough to shoot because they don't sit still long (way less than 5 seconds when they know they're being hunted). Finally hung a peanut butter suet today in hope of getting a better, less rushed, shot from a hidden position.
FYI, starlings and PMs can't crossbreed, genetically impossible. Otherwise, I thought I have one: big body and neck but dark beak. Hopefully no PM has a yellow beak (or long legs) cuz I'm blasting on sight.
FYI, starlings and PMs can't crossbreed, genetically impossible. Otherwise, I thought I have one: big body and neck but dark beak. Hopefully no PM has a yellow beak (or long legs) cuz I'm blasting on sight.
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Svanbooven
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2026 7:07 pm
- Location: Texas
I too want to emphasize what h2y is saying about the predators and invasive species must never be allowed to house with the colony. I have a rather sad story that I want to share with you. Recently, I had a very persistent starling try and try to breech a couple of SREH's on one of my T14's. He tried and tried as I kept reloading(emphasizing the difficulty to shoot). He finally breeched one and I ran out of the house and wasn't 10 steps away when he exited back out of the house in which he entered. I proceeded to lower the house to make sure there was no damage and found a dead adult male laying in the nest. Couldn't have been more than 10 seconds after he breeched the entrance and left. Extremely quick attack. Very sad results. Please don't let these predators house in your colony.
Good luck with your predator problem.
Good luck with your predator problem.
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h2y
- Posts: 56
- Joined: Sat Mar 04, 2023 3:34 am
- Location: La Grange, TX
- Martin Colony History: est. 2001.
336 6x12" suites; 8"x5' duct
pipe snake guards; nest 15'
poles to 9'. Pre-spray Bifen
inside houses each year; pre-
load "bedrooms" with pine
needles. Feed crows for hawk
control; Tempo dust for mites.
I sympathize for your loss, it's saddening to lose a bird.
I see that T-14 entrance holes are elevated off the floor, like my SREHs from a different maker. Most years, a few starling kills and they stay away. I'll see after the recent kills. If they persist, I'll add a piece of PVC S4S 1x4 on top of the porch floor to make it flush with the entrance hole. Supposedly, starlings can't enter that...legs too long.
I see that T-14 entrance holes are elevated off the floor, like my SREHs from a different maker. Most years, a few starling kills and they stay away. I'll see after the recent kills. If they persist, I'll add a piece of PVC S4S 1x4 on top of the porch floor to make it flush with the entrance hole. Supposedly, starlings can't enter that...legs too long.
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John Miller
- Posts: 4863
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Starlings are a little unpredictable, but it's my experience that if one lets the nest advance to eggs and then removes, the starlings will abandon -- even more likely to abandon if you let advance to babies and remove. I
You can take steps as others said to make the entrance more restrictive to starlings. Adding a wing entrapment gourd to the front, placed so that it's about 1/32 inch above the top but not flush, helps. But one caveat. Once a starling has learned to enter, it may push through even after restrictions...so this tactic may not work on this pair.
You can take steps as others said to make the entrance more restrictive to starlings. Adding a wing entrapment gourd to the front, placed so that it's about 1/32 inch above the top but not flush, helps. But one caveat. Once a starling has learned to enter, it may push through even after restrictions...so this tactic may not work on this pair.