Texas has become home to a well known invasive species of bird: the European Starling. Starling birds will nest and thrive in any environment and remain in Texas all year long. Starlings have become a major issue throughout Texas. They cause external damages to homes and threaten other local species of birds. When starlings invade your property and home you will want to control them to help reduce the damage. A Five Star Termite & Pest Control will share a little more about starlings and how you can control them.
European Starling Characteristics
Starlings are easy to identify. They have a stocky body build, with a short tail and a long pointed beak. While in flight their wings come to a point and from underneath, the starling makes a star like shape which gives them their name. At a distance they appear black, but when closer you can see their white spots. Their tail and wing feathers glitter with green and purple colors in the sun light.
Dangers of European Starlings
Once the European starling reached North America in 1890 they became a fierce competitor of our local birds including purple martins, blue birds, and woodpeckers. Cavity nesting birds had a difficult time reproducing as the starlings would take over and occupy their nest and even remove their eggs and chicks from the nests. Not only are local birds endangered by the starling’s arrival they also infest urban areas. They will nest on roof tops and other human structures. Starling’s have caused roofing damage, HVAC damage and our lawns as they dig for insects in the grass. Since Starling’s have a diverse diet they are able to inhabit rural and urban areas. By so doing, they have been able to spread throughout America.
European Starling Control
Step 1. Nuisance Bird Exclusion: To help prevent damage caused by starlings you must prevent them from roosting or nesting on your roof or around your home. Start by closing off openings that are 1 inch or larger. Starlings can squeeze into tight spaces and love nesting in them. Use either a nylon or metal wire mesh or netting and cover eves and smaller openings to help keep the birds from finding a nesting spot. Additionally, attempt not to feed or water them. Bird baths or even a puddle from a sprinkler can provide plenty of water. Starlings will feed on smaller pet food, bird seed and insects. You may not be able to completely prevent feed Starlings. However, you may want to reduce a food source to help reduce Starling population.
Step 2. Nesting Bird Deterrents: To help keep starlings away you can try repellents and scare tactics. Starling’s frighten easily and this can help deter a major population. Scarecrows, hawk kites and motion sensor sprinklers can help keep starlings away from the lawn and from your home. However, some may grow accustomed to these deterrents and in time learn they are not a danger. You can also try some repellents such as Bird Tanglefoot, Roost On More or use bird spikes to prevent Starlings from landing or roosting on the edges of your home.
Step 3. Bird Trapping: There has been some success in trapping and relocating Starlings when they over populate an area. The most effective traps for Starlings are nest-box traps and decoy traps.
Roosting Bird Pest Inspections, Control in Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Timberwood Park, Leon Valley, Alamo Heights, New Braunfels, Selma, Live Oak, Converse, Universal City, Cibolo, Seguin, New Berlin, St Hedwig, Adkins, La Vernia, Elmendorf, Losoya, Von Ormy, Macdona & San Antonio, Texas
If you are battling a starling or bird problem, contact A Five Star Termite & Pest Control. We provide a number of pest control services including bird control. Contact A Five Star Termite & Pest Control today!
