Want to make your own wire prongs? Cut a wire coat hanger into 6 in (15 cm) lengths and bundle them together. Then, use a staple gun to staple the ends to the ledge and bend the opposite ends of the wires up at different angles so they poke out.
Don’t forget to seal the ends of the boards or pieces of metal so the starlings can’t get underneath them to nest. If you don’t want to keep the boards or metal up forever, you can probably remove them once the starlings have relocated.
You also don’t want water in troughs to be so low that starlings can stand in them and drink. Make sure the water is at least 3 inches (7. 6 cm) deep.
Starlings have weak legs so it’s hard for them to hang upside down to eat from the feeders. Don’t worry—birds like woodpeckers, chickadees, and nuthatches won’t have a problem hanging upside-down to feed. Avoid setting out cracked corn, sunflower kernels, millet, or suet since these will attract starlings. Instead, put out nyjer seed and safflower seeds for other birds since starlings have a hard time eating them.
Frightening sounds work best along with a visual scare so set up things that look frightening to the starlings. Ultra-sonic sound systems don’t work against starlings since they can’t hear the frequency.
Be sure to move the visual scare devices frequently so that the starlings don’t get used to them.
You can also attach netting underneath rafters to keep the starlings from nesting in your attic. Check the netting frequently for holes so starlings can’t get through or trapped in the material.
Starlings like to nest in vents like dryer, stove, or exhaust fan vents. You’re legally allowed to remove starling eggs, but it’s against federal law to remove nests or eggs of other bird types.
You might see plastic netting or window screening for sale, but these materials aren’t strong enough to keep really determined starlings out. Avoid putting metal flaps over vents since starlings will still be able to get through these and into the vents.
Avoid pruning the tops of the trees or you could encourage the side branches to put on growth which the starlings might prefer.
Try to set the traps at least 10 feet (3. 0 m) from the nearest building so the starlings aren’t startled away from the traps. Traps can be a bit of a hassle since you’ll have to drive the captured starlings far from your home in order to release them.
