If you are a bird lover, you may keep some food for birds in your backyard or garden. But sometimes other birds like starlings steal food from your bird feeder. If they continue to steal like this every day, they will become addicted to the food there. In this situation, what will you do? How do you keep starling away from your bird feeder? In the previous article, we discussed how to keep crows away from bird feeders. In this blog post, we will discuss how you can prevent starlings from taking food out of your bird feeder. So let’s get started.
Why need to keep starlings away from bird feeders?
The main reason why you should keep starling away from the bird feeder is that it’s not good for their health and also it will make them go hungry, which will lead to starvation. Starling is very aggressive towards other birds who come near to take the food. They are known as “thieves” because they always try to steal food. When they find an empty bird feeder, they start eating everything inside it. This makes them full and happy. But if you have more than one bird feeder, then they will fight for the food. The ones who win will be able to eat all the food inside it. It will be left to those who lost. And this time, when they return back home, they will look for another bird feeder where they can get more food.
So if you want to stop starlings from coming to your bird feeder, then you must know how to keep them away. Some methods of keeping away starling from bird feeders are given below.
how do I Keep Starlings away from my bird feeder? some tips-
1. Put plastic covers over your bird feeder
It is a great way to keep starling away from bird feeders as it is easy and cheap too. You just need to put a piece of plastic sheet, which is thick enough to cover your bird feeder. The plastic sheets are available at any hardware store. So place them on top of your bird feeder every day before feeding time.
2. Use a water sprinkler system
Another simple way to discourage starlings from eating from your bird feeder is by using a water sprinkler system. This device usually consists of two parts; one part is connected to a hose that comes through your roof, and another part is connected to a nozzle that sprays water into the air above your bird feeder. By doing so, it makes sure no bird is able to reach the feeder.
3. Hang a sticky note
This is one of the most effective ways to keep starling away. All you have to do is hang a sticky note near the bird feeder. When starling sees the notice, it will immediately leave the area.
4. Keep birdseed inside the closed container
If you can’t use a plastic sheet, then you should try keeping your bird seeds in a closed container. This method works best if the birdseed is placed in an enclosed container. Make sure the container has a tight-fitting lid. Also, make sure that the container is not placed near the window because when it gets hot outside, starlings will find it easier to open the container.
5. Make noise
To keep starlings away from the bird feeder, you should also make noise whenever you see starlings coming close to your bird feeder. Try shouting loudly or banging pots and pans together.
6. Cover the bird feeder with wire mesh
This is one of our favourite methods. We often use this technique to keep squirrels away from our bird feeder. Just take a big piece of wire mesh and position it over your bird feeder so that it completely covers all openings. Once done, remove the mesh only after feeding time.
7. Make an animal decoy
One more thing you can do to keep starling away is make a visual decoy. It will help you to keep away starlings from your bird feeder during the daytime. In order to make this decoy, just place a small stuffed toy next to your bird feeder and attach a string. Then tie a bell around the neck of the stuffed toy. Then check daily whether starling is still going towards your bird feeder or not. If yes, then pull the string to release the bell sound.
8. Place scarecrows
These are the last but not least way to keep starlings far away from your bird feeder. Scarecrow is a very effective tool for birds. They are made up of straws, twigs, leaves, etc., to look like a real person. When you place these scarecrows around your garden, they will scare off starlings. And once the starlings get scared, they won’t come back again.
9. Place bird feeder high up
If you don’t want starling to eat from your bird feeder, then you should move it far away from tree branches. Birds naturally avoid places where there are trees because those places are full of insects. So, placing bird feeders on a higher level will prevent them from visiting your feeders.
10. Use bird netting on top of the feeder
Bird netting is used to trap birds. You may need to buy this product separately unless you already own some. However, this is a good solution to keep starlings away from your bird feeders. Simply put the bird netting on top of the feeder so that it keeps out any other birds except starling.
11. Put lights at night
Some people consider putting lights on their bird feeder as one of the best ways to keep the starling far from the bird feeder. Starlings hate the light, and they tend to go away from bright lights.
12. Put sticky tape on the bottom of the bird feeder
Sticky tapes are another great way to keep starling away. The idea is simple. When you notice a starling hovering right above your bird feeder, simply tear a strip of sticky tape and stick it on the floor. Now, starlings will be unable to reach the food inside the bird feeder.
13. Clean the bird feeder regularly
This might be the most important step. You need to clean the bird feeder every now and then in order to keep the seed fresh. Also, if you have multiple bird feeders, you need to clean each one individually.
Can starling hurt my baby birds?
Starling does not harm baby birds because they cannot pick up the seeds properly. But when you see starlings eating the seeds, it means that they have picked up the seeds before they were ready to eat. Therefore, it’s better to watch out for starlings carefully rather than worrying about starlings harming baby birds.
How much time should I spend keeping starling away from my bird feeder?
The answer lies in how many times you observe starlings at your bird feeder. Once you notice starlings at your birdfeeder, try to find out what type of food they are looking for. If you detect that they are feeding on seeds, then wait until they finish and leave your area. After that, remove all the remaining food and refill with new ones. If you notice that they are eating bugs or grubs, you can use insect repellent spray to repel them. It also depends on how big the bird feeder is. As long as the space is large enough for the starling to fly, it’ll be fine.
How do I know which bird feeder attracts starlings?
It is difficult to figure out which bird feeder attracts the starling. If there is more than one bird feeder in your yard, you need to find out which one attracts starlings first. Then, make sure to keep it away from the others. Of course, you should never hang bird feeders near water sources such as ponds or lakes. They may attract fish and frogs, which will bring predators like owls, snakes, etc.
Is it possible to scare starling away from my garden?
Yes, but only temporarily. Starling is not bothered by sounds or loud noises. So, you may want to try placing a toy owl outside your bird feeder. It may help to distract the starling.
What should I look for to get rid of a starling?
You should look for things that could attract starling. Keep an eye out for places where starling likes to perch. For example, hanging branches near window blinds or trees may allow starling to enter your home. These areas should be avoided in order to prevent starling from coming into your house.
How many times do I need to change my bird feeder?
This would depend on the size of your bird feeder. However, you should replace the seed once every week. Remember that your birds require different kinds of foods depending on their age. For instance, young birds usually love soft fruits, while adult birds prefer hard nuts and seeds. Make sure to check the instructions provided with your birdseed so you won’t waste your money.
Do I have to kill a starling?
No! Killing starling is not necessary. You just need to protect your bird feeder from this pesky critter. To protect your bird feeder, you can follow our above-mentioned tips. We hope you will get a good result.
Why do starlings gather around my attic?
There are several reasons why starlings gather around your attic. One reason is that starlings are attracted to warm climates. Another reason is that they often build nests on top of roofs. This makes it easier for the starling to hide from predators. The third reason is that starlings tend to roost during cold weather. Therefore, if your attic has some heat, you might see starling gathering around your attic.
Are starlings dangerous?
Starling is harmless to humans. But, they can cause damage to your property when they nest inside your building. In addition to that, they can pose problems to pets and even livestock. They are known to carry diseases and parasites that infect animals and plants.
Final thought:
Starlings are natural creatures. As natural creatures, they steal food from other birds’ feeders. In this blog post, we discussed how to keep starlings away from the bird feeder. We hope you can understand, and it will be helpful for you to keep away starlings from your bird feeder.
