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How to Get Rid of Starlings?

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Starlings are also known as black birds are highly adaptive. They are found all throughout the United States where they are considered to be invasive species. Starlings compete with birds that are native to the area for nesting places and food. They have also been known to take over a nest from other birds kicking out the eggs and nestlings if there are any. So not only would you be helping yourself get rid of the starlings but you will also be helping the birds that are native to the area.

Food

You will want to eliminate their source of food if you can. Do not hang out bird feeders if they flock towards them and if you have fruit trees you will want to cover them. You can get netting that is available at a hardware store or nursery that is designed for trees and to keep birds out of them. Also if they tend to flock your birdbath you will want to remove it as well.

Hardware Cloth

You can get hardware cloth at your local hardware store you will want to get one that is galvanized to prevent rusting. You are going to cover your vents and chimney and any other openings that the birds are using for nesting places. The openings that are in the cloth will allow for unobstructed airflow for you house.

Scare Them

You have seen those plastic owls sitting in the hardware store and have probably questioned why anyone would want one. Well you are now that person and now you know why. Those plastic owls when hung in trees and near nesting places of starlings actually scare them away. If you do not want to use the plastic owls you can use reflective streamers not only do they scare the starlings but they look pretty flowing in the breeze. Do not have streamers? How about pie tins? You can also hang pie tins in your trees to keep starlings away, they are also effective in fruit trees to keep deer away. They are fairly inexpensive and if you purchase your pies from the store you get one for free with it!