|
|
. | Anyone else having problems with more than usual number of starlings? They figured out how to get under the eaves of the seed storage shed and what a mess. Will have to set up some scaffolding to climb up and wire mesh the vent areas over. And under the porch, the smallest board you could find they manage to perch on and poop all over. My project for today and probably the next couple is covering it all with hardware cloth. I just took a break to wash off the blood from all the wire poking me. My hands will be quite a mess when done-but I won't post pictures to ruin anyone's appetite. |
|
| |
|
NE Iowa | Yes, have never seen them so bad. We have a big windbreak and they like those pine trees. |
|
| |
|
Pilot Grove, Missouri | Have had problems in past years. Best remedy I have found is to shoot sa many as possible and let the dead lay around as a warning to the rest. They will eventually move on. Seem to have a problem every few years. Several years ago i remember them in the yard so thick that i shot over 20 of them with one shot (12 gauge shotgun) as the flock was lifting off the ground. Patrick |
|
| |
|
Auxvasse, MO | yes always carry shotgun in the truck in the spring to stop nesting in equipment and buildings , someone had some pics of a starling trap on here one time looked like a bird house. |
|
| |
|
EC Nebraska | We've got a few of these traps up. They work fairly well. If you can get the trip mechanism balanced just right you'll have a pipe full of starlings every morning. If not, run a length of lightweight twine down for a re-set cord. Pull the cord every time you take out a starling, and you'll have another one soon.
But after the first year there won't be many around. Just need to keep it up to catch the new ones that wander in.
 (Starlingsa.jpg)
 (starlingsb.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
 Starlingsa.jpg (158KB - 91 downloads)
starlingsb.jpg (129KB - 87 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
EC Nebraska | I've posted about these traps before, usually get asked for the plans:
What we built is an S&S controller. Plans are available from the Purple Martin Society here: http://shop.purplemartin.org/S_S_Controller_Plans-details.aspx I'm going to go ahead and encourage people to support them by purchasing the plans from them.
It's difficult to finetune the balance enough to reliably reset after each catch, so we installed a "reset rope" (a piece of lightweight baler twine).
This page has suggestions for fine tuning to catch sparrows as well as starlings. http://www.wtc.ab.ca/northernskys/shutter.htm
This is a modification of the S&S fine tuned for sparrows. And, you don't have to support anyone for these plans. Just kill sparrows and he's happy. : http://www.chuckspurplemartinpage.com/spartrap.htm
Detailed instructions for a different type of sparrow and starling trap. Again, just kill those vermin and he's happy: http://www.chuckspurplemartinpage.com/startrap.htm
To answer a couple other questions: We rarely catch any species other than starlings. The Purple Martin Society recommends placing the traps among buildings near human activity. Starlings and sparrows don't mind people and won't avoid the trap. Most desirable species will avoid nesting too close to buildings with regular human activity and will therefore avoid the traps too. |
|
| |
|
Pedee, Oregon | My grandfather came up with one similar. Just 4 or 6 inch pvc pipe couple feet long to an elbow on another pipe long enough to get it up under the eve. On the entrance end drill some small holes so you can insert stiff wire pointing inwards. Starling can get in past the wires but not out. Put bottom of down pipe in cage or bucket of water depending on your attitude towards the starlings. Works great! |
|
| |
|
Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot | My first starling trap was an old rabbit cage with a hole cut in the wires. Bent the wires in like you said. Little grain laying in the bottom for bait.
On the off chance something else was in there, it was pretty easy to let them out before you took it to the canal. |
|
| |
|
. | Thanks for the trap ideas. These are 1 kind of bird I truly detest. |
|
| |
|
Indiana | . |
|
| |
Starling infestation this year
