KnysnaRed-winged Starlings Series Part 3 – Knysna https://showme.co.za/knysna Knysna, South Africa for all your local and tourism information; from accommodation to events, entertainment, attractions and news - ShowMe Knysna | T Feed Wed, 06 Mar 2024 08:20:00 +0000 hourly 1 https://showme.co.za/knysna/home-page/red-winged-starlings-series-part-3/ Red-winged Starlings Series Part 3 https://showme.co.za/knysna/tourism/tourist-attractions/red-winged-starlings-series-part-3/ Thu, 21 Oct 2021 10:02:00 +0000 How to divert the indigenous Red-winged Starlings quickly & humanely...]]>

How to divert Red-winged Starlings quickly & humanely

As charming as Red-winged starlings can be, there are times when they should not be encouraged and rather diverted quickly in a humane manner.

So how does one divert Red-winged starlings, but not other birds?

Here are a few of the most effective suggestions:

If you have noticed starlings raiding your bird feeder and chasing off other birds away, the best option is to invest in a starling-proof feeder.

Starling-proof feeder – a standard feeder tube with a cage (diameter of at least 11 inches) around the outside is ideal. The cage prohibits large birds, as well as small animals, such as rodents from accessing the feed in your birdfeeder.

Starlings are known to nest in the cavities of roofs. Usually, a nest is inhabited by two pairs over different periods of a given year. If you have starlings nesting in the roof and they are posing a problem, there are a few ways to deal with the issue:

Remove the nest material – If the nest material is inhabited and there are no eggs, you can remove it. Removing the nest will make it harder for the starling to re-establish the nest and may encourage them to go elsewhere.

Starling birdbox – install bird boxes high up in the areas of your garden where the birds won’t cause damage or havoc and place the nesting material inside. They will soon find them and inhabit them easily if they feel unthreatened.

A nesting deterrent – if the birds become frantic and insist on rebuilding the nest in the same spot, you can purchase nesting deterrents. They’re made of a clear plastic plate that you can mount along your home’s eaves. This makes the spot hard to build a nest in and deters starlings from returning.

Patch holes – If you catch a starling nest before the nest is fully constructed, or before the birds return for the season, patch the area with a durable wire mesh. You may also consider blocking off pipe fittings, vents, and the chimney with the same material.

What not to do

The Red-winged Starling is indigenous to SA and it is critical to avoid harming these birds.

In addition to being inhumane, destroying completed nests with chicks or eggs and shooting starlings is illegal.

Instead, contact a professional pest control company that will know how to remove them humanely and effectively.

Images by: Lynette Mullins

Part 1 – Meet our Red-winged Starlings

Part 2 – How to attract and humanely manage the Red-winged Starlings

In part 4 – discover how to hand-rear a Red-winged Starling and re-establish its family connection.

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