A starling made it into a SREH!!

[BillieJR]

I've seen starlings, over the years, attempt to get into these SREHs on my gourds - and never made it. I was way too comfortable thinking they couldn't and I didn't have to worry about them. Infact, as I said in another post I made yesterday - I've only seen a couple starlings here since I raised my gourds up this spring. So I wasn't worried about them, in the least. I was even considering taking a couple SREHs off in hopes to attract and keep some purple martins, to get my game started. Well, guess what!!!!! I looked out this morning, had a nice pair of martins here - I was so excited!!! And here comes a 3rd bird, and my first thought is wow - a 3rd martin - but nope - it was a starling! And that sucker went into one of the gourds!!! I couldn't believe my eyes. I mean - I've read, here, that there is an occasional starling that breeches the SREH - but never had the displeasure of that happening here. This dude is bringing in nesting material to one particular gourd. And every now and then, chasing off the martins. Thankfully they keep coming back but I worry they might get tired of being harrassed by this dumb starling. My question is - can I use the trap door that I use on my SREHs to trap sparrows - and trap this starling? I have no experience with bb guns or shooting anything - but I can trap like a rock star - if that trap will work on a starling.

Advice/opinions, please. Thanks!

[C.C.Martins]

Give it a shot! Trap the sucker. Please let us know.

[BillieJR]

Thanks - I have no other option at this point so I'm headed out to put the trap on it now.

I did notice the pair of martins that were here are not here anymore - hoping they'll return as the day goes on. However, I also notice the starling that was here and taking nesting material into the one gourd is no longer around now either. It's like they were here as long as the martins were - and then once they left, the starling was no longer interested either.

[Kegger]

no matter which entrance you use, you will never keep the sparrow out. This year I have kept a cavity in each of my houses for trapping them.
I have had some luck also trapping a starling. Take no prisoners.

[C.C.Martins]

Plan as if they will be back i guess. You sound determined, ill predict that starling is a gonner.

Sorry! Should have also said congrats on the martins showing up!

[Rick B]

Yes, The Conley wire and door shield trap works great on starlings. I have also seen them lift the door shield with their beaks and get out. The porch on the Troyer tunnel has lots of traction groves in them giving the starlings something to push their way in. There are threads on here about putting smooth plastic on the platform to keep the starling from entering . Every year I have at least 1 that gets in, trap it or shoot it! My advice is not to change a thing if you have visiting martins.

I also added 4 of the supper gourds with tunnels this year under the houses, 3 of the 4 have martin pairs in them so far!

Rick

[BillieJR]

Thanks Kegger, C.C. Martins and Rick B!!! yes - I am determined - but that starling today kinda disappeared. I put the trap on the gourd but the starling didn't come back so I removed it tonight incase any martins show up for the night or stop by in the morning before I am up. I don't want to risk trapping a martin. I'll keep watch and put it back tomorrow morning if I see that starling, which I am pretty sure I will. I can't imagine it will abandon that gourd it was putting nesting material in.

And thanks for the congrats, C.C. Martins. I'd like to think this is my year - but time will tell.