How to Keep Starlings Away from Your Bird Feeders

How to Keep Starlings Away from Your Bird Feeders

by Alex Kountry
Updated on

Starlings can be a real nuisance, especially if they start raiding your bird feeders. But don’t worry, there are a few things you can do to keep them away.

How to Keep Starlings Away from Your Bird FeedersCheckout this video:

Identify the problem

Before you can take steps to keep starlings away from your bird feeders, you need to be able to identify the problem. Birds are attracted to bird feeders for the same reasons that we are: they offer an easy food source. If you are noticing that starlings are visiting your bird feeders more often than other birds, it could be for a few different reasons.

One possibility is that your bird feeder is not strong enough to support the weight of larger birds like starlings, and so they are able to bully their way to the food. Another possibility is that you are using the wrong type of birdseed, and starlings are attracted to it more than other birds. Whatever the reason, once you have identified the problem, you can take steps to fix it and keep starlings away from your bird feeders for good.

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##Heading:Remove any potential food sources
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The first step in getting rid of skunks is to remove any potential food sources. If skunks can find an easy meal on your property, they will keep coming back. Try to keep your trash cans sealed tight and pick up any fallen fruit from your trees or garden area. If you have pet food that is left out overnight, make sure it is in a place where skunks cannot get to it. You may also want to consider getting rid of any standing water on your property, as skunks are attracted to water sources.

Determine why starlings are attracted to your bird feeders

The European starling is an invasive species in North America, and these birds can be a real nuisance around your home. If you’ve noticed starlings raiding your bird feeders, there are a few things you can do to deter them.

First, it’s important to understand why starlings are attracted to your bird feeders in the first place. Starlings are opportunistic feeders, which means they’ll eat just about anything. So, if you’re offering up a buffet of birdseed, it’s likely that starlings will be interested.

In addition, starlings are attracted to areas where there is a lot of activity. This means that if you have a lot of birds coming and going from your feeders, the starlings will take notice and want to join in on the fun.

Finally, starlings are social creatures and they like to congregate in large groups. This means that if you have just a few starlings visiting your bird feeders, they’re likely to invite their friends and before you know it, you’ll have a flock of them!

Take action to keep starlings away

There are a few things you can do if you’re having problems with starlings raiding your bird feeders. One is to make sure that your bird feeders are high enough off the ground so that the starlings can’t reach them. You can also try using a feeder that has a small hole, so that only smaller birds can get to the food. Finally, you can try using a feeder that has a weight-activated perch, so that the starlings can’t sit on it and eat.

Remove the attractants

If you want to get rid of the starlings, you have to remove the attractants. Starlings are attracted to bird feeders that offer an easy food source. To keep them away, you need to take down your bird feeders and clean up any spilled seed beneath them. You should also consider removing any other potential food sources from your yard, such as pet food, fallen fruit, or open garbage cans.

Use bird-friendly feeders

One way to keep starlings away from your bird feeders is to use bird-friendly feeders. Starlings are large birds and can often dominate smaller feeders, so choose a feeder that is designed to keep them out. There are many different types of bird-friendly feeders on the market, so you should be able to find one that suits your needs.

Another way to keep starlings away from your bird feeders is to make sure that the food you are offering is not attractive to them. Starlings are mostly insectivorous, so they are not interested in seed mixes or suet. If you offer them a food that they don’t like, they will soon learn that your feeder is not a good source of food and will move on to another area.

You can also try using a physical barrier to keep starlings away from your bird feeders. There are many different types of devices on the market that can be used to deter birds, such as netting or spikes. If you use one of these devices, make sure that it is safe for the type of birds that you want to attract, as some of them can be quite harmful.

Lastly, you can try using chemical repellents to keep starlings away from your bird feeders. There are many different products on the market that claim to be effective at deterring birds, but it is important to read the labels carefully and follow the directions carefully to avoid harming the birds or other animals in your yard.

Use visual deterrents

There are several visual deterrents you can use to keep starlings away from your bird feeders. One is to place a plastic hawk or owl near the feeders. The birds will see the predator and be deterred from coming close. Another option is to hang streamers or ribbons near the feeders, which will also scare the birds away. You can also try suspending a wire mesh around the feeders, which will make it difficult for the birds to land and eat.

Monitor and adjust as needed

You’ll need to be vigilant, as starlings are persistent pests. Check your bird feeders daily, and if you see a starling, take the following actions:
-Stop feeding for a few days. Starlings will move on to an easier food source if they can’t find food at your feeders.
-Remove all food and water from your feeders and clean them thoroughly. This will remove the smells that attract starlings.
-If you have multiple feeders, keep them far apart from each other so the starlings can’t eat from more than one at a time.
-Ensure that your bird feeders have small holes that only allow small birds to access the food. Starlings have difficulty maneuvering with their large beaks.
-Hang your bird feeders from a wire or cord so they can swing freely. This makes it harder for starlings to land and eat.
-Install baffles on your bird poles or trees. These devices make it difficult for animals to climb, so starlings won’t be able to reach your feeders.
-Use deterrence devices such as scarecrows, Mylar balloons or visual deterrents such as shiny objects or predators (e.g., owl decoys)

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About the author

Alex Kountry

Alex Kountry is the founder of HayFarmGuy and has been a backyard farmer for over 10 years. Since then he has decided to write helpful articles that will help you become a better backyard farmer and know what to do. He also loves to play tennis and read books

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