Starling Prevention and Repellents
It’s no news that starlings are increasingly becoming worrisome to gardeners. Starlings are medium-sized birds (passerine) with long slender beaks and short tails. They are usually twice as big as House Sparrows and have been known to be nuisances in gardens. Lots of gardeners have sleepless nights wondering how to get rid of starlings, of course, the damage they cause is enough reason to worry. One interesting fact about starlings is that they only nest in cavities (maybe you are providing that for them in your garden).
Some of the common problems starlings cause are as follows:
- They damage your crops by eating up the seeds and fruits.
- They produce large quantities of waste which may be a huge expense to repair or clean up.
- They have been known to transmit diseases from one carrier to another.
- They cause noise pollution due to their extremely loud nature.
- They clog up drainage pipes and gutters with their nests, thus causing water damage.
- They pose threats to airplanes and are often referred to as “flying bullets”.
- They can cause fire hazards or affect indoor air quality through their activities in exhaust vents, as it is one of their favorite nesting places.
If you are tired of starlings damaging your property due to their eating and nesting habits, there are effective ways to control them.
There are several natural products and methods that can be employed in combating them. First, you should ensure you start taking the necessary actions quickly, and make sure to be persistent in any approach you choose until it works out. You should also try out other techniques until you find the one that works best for you.
Effective ways to control Starlings
Eliminating starlings permanently may require a long term plan, management, and a variety of products and approaches. Some of the popular products that have been used to control starlings include the following:
Bird Guard
This is designed to scare away birds from your property. It comes with a built-in microprocessor that randomizes and controls the order at which the sound plays as well as the pitch of each bird sound to make the other birds believe that it is a distress call from other birds within the area. These sounds discourage other birds from coming closer to the area.
Bird Slide
Bird slides are designed to deter different kinds of birds of different sizes away from the property. It deters them from landing, nesting, and roosting on the protected property. They are usually effective against all kinds of roosting and nesting birds and are recommended for homes, warehouses, etc. Bird slides are easy to install and offer long-lasting protection. One good thing about them is that they are both environmentally safe and harmless to birds.
Optical bird scarer
This is an optical bird scarer that is designed to scare birds away from properties through the use of light beams that are reflected directly from the sunlight. The reflective pyramid turns and sends the beams of light around in a threatening manner aimed at scaring birds. The reflected light beam limits the vision of the birds and causes them to avoid the light source and fly away to another direction. This has been effectively and efficiently employed by lots of people in deterring starlings from properties. If you have been searching for a very effective method of scaring starlings, you should think about using a bird scarer.
Starling Traps
Starlings have caused a reduction in the number of other birds as they compete with them for nesting sites. The best way to overcome this and encourage other birds to live in the environment is to eliminate starlings from the local population. Starling traps involve the use of traps for catching starlings. Starlings are known to be attracted to holes. Nest boxes are set up and when starlings start visiting them, traps are inserted inside them to trap the birds (catches birds by closing the entrance hole). Often, these traps are baited to attract the birds, but should be closely monitored so that trapped birds can be removed as soon as possible. Some of the baits that can be used include suet cakes, bread, etc.
Bird-Shock Flex-Track
This is a bird deterrent system that utilizes the fear and flight principle in making birds stay away. The flex track is not easily detectable to birds from a distance and it deters different kinds of birds including starlings. It utilizes pulsating electric shocks, which is quite similar to static electric shocks, to prevent birds from roosting and nesting. When birds perch on it, they experience a pulsating electric shock, which makes them fly away in fear.
Bird Netting
This is the most widely used method of deterring birds. It is quite easy to install and has been in use for a very long time. Bird nettings are simply made of mesh and can be used in balconies, barns, garages, or in any enclosed area. They are usually effective in the control of different kinds of birds, not only starlings. Many brands of bird netting are commercially available, so you need to consider quality, as well as, color and physical appearance before purchasing.
Bird Repellent Gels
This is a fast and effective solution to starling problems, although it requires some physical effort and is time consuming because you need to apply the gel all over the protected property. Bird gels are sticky gels used to keep starlings away from surfaces. Generally, birds are unable to stand on the sticky sensation the gel provides on their feet when they perch on the protected property. In response, they fly away to a more comfortable place. This may be a more expensive option if you have a larger property, as you may need a large quantity of gel. Thus, sticky gels are only recommended for small properties while nettings, optical bird scarers, and starling traps are recommended for larger properties.