Got all my SREHs back in place and the starlings haven't been able to enter! That's good.
The bad.......had what looked to be 3 young males come to the house and they gave everything a good inspection. One of them got 3/4 in one of the gourd SREH several times and was about to go in.....another was negoiating one on the house and I was excited......then two starlings came out of nowhere and ran them off. The martins came back and made an attempt to land on the house and the starlings ran them off again. It's about an hour later and they have not shown up again.
At least they're still looking. Sure hope the starlings give up since they can't get in!!!!!
Once a starling or sparrow decides to use your housing, it may take several days for them to change their mind. I usually am home most of the day (retired), and I have very few problems. My neighbor works and traps more than I do, and has a whole lot more problems with starlings and sparrows because he is gone all day. They leave quickly when I start using my pellet rifle..I got a sparrow today, he wasn't dead, but my black lab made quick work of him, catching it for me. (I don't kill starlings & sparrows, my lab does...he he he)
Starlings are quite easy to trap if you have SREs on your martin housing. Just put up a couple of nestbox traps about 8' above ground with 2" holes and a big porch in close proximity of your martin housing...it won't take no time!
Another option if you can shoot a pellet rifle is to take them out while they are struggling to get into the SREs.
to all, do not let your dog eat a killed sparrow or starling if you have shot it with a pellet gun. It may ingest lead if the pellet lodges in the bird, and this could harm your pet.
I don't think I've hit'em yet but the 410 is coming out next. Don't care what the neighbors think.