Solution to starlings entering Excluder II gourds

[jeanf]

Starlings were getting into my Excluder II gourds pretty easily this season (are they smaller this year or what?!).

I think I found the super easy and cheap answer. Instead of taking everything apart and raising the porches I bought the corrugated white sign board (looks like cardboard, but it's white and plastic) at HD. I used LOCTITE Stik'nSeal outdoor adhesive (also at HD) to glue 3x3 squares of the sign board to each porch when the PMs were away yesterday afternoon. We sat here and watched the Starlings trying their hardest to get in all morning and not one breach. Fingers crossed it stays that way. I think what helps is not only the shorter leg room, but the slickness of the sign board. They'd almost look like they were getting in, but they're feet couldn't get a hold on the slickness. I'd almost cut the board at 2x3, but I'm glad I didn't, because the Starlings would have been able to get a grip on the ribbing of the original porches where it wasn't covered by the sign board.

Jean: 1
Starlings: 0 ... we hope!

Jean
Central Texas

[Jeff Robinson]

Way to go Jean! Are your porches now flush with the bottom of the opening and martins still able to enter?

Jeff

[jeanf]

Thanks, Jeff. They aren't quite flush, but very close. It was a nervous few minutes when the PMs came back in last night. They knew something was different and it took them a few minutes, but now they are going in/out just like before. Kind of funny to watch the starlings try and try. I think they'd still be able to get in if not for the slickness. They almost slide off when they are just sitting there, resting between tries, but it doesn't seem to bother the PMs at all.

[jeanf]

also... if you have a sewer or quilter around, the sign board can be cut quickly and easily with a rotary cutter and quilting ruler. :-) The entire process took me all of about 20 minutes. When I glued the squares down I put an x of glue, rubbed it around the porch and then lifted it slightly and put it back down (a carpenter's trick I learned). I put clamps to hold the sign board while it was setting. The glue package says two hours, but I tried them after a few minutes and those things weren't going anywhere. I hauled the gourd rack back up and an hour later, the PMs were in for the night. We'll see how they hold up in Texas sun, but it's so cheap and easy, that replacement won't be a problem.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

You are absolutely correct about the slick porch, and you are right about making the entrance nearly flush.

I love that corrigated plastic, sometimes called coriplast, or signboard. I put it on top of my S&K BoVilla gourds, made a 2nd roof to help in the hot summers. There is a spacer between to two roofs. It held up perfectly for one season, but I only used it for one year.

That stuff is so cheap, works so good, easy to paint or easy to glue. It is a wonderful product for do-it-yourselfers. I purchase some of mine at the sign department at the box store (HD). The product is made in many colors, but black is the only opaque one, the rest allows a bit of light.

This photo shows it as a yellow color, I painted it white with Krylon spray paint for plastic.


EDIT: thanks for the tip about the cutter, my wife quilts a lot so she has some of them. The coriplast is easy to cut with a table saw, but the rotary cutter sounds much easier and better, and more accurate!

If you have a sign with coriplast, the painting can be completly removed with acetone, and can be reused.. I did that with a bunch of signs after the election.

[jeanf]

Actually Emil, I think you're the one that turned me on to it in the first place. Last year I used it on my Grandpa (that we tore down this year because it just was too dilapidated).

I see big things for the coraplast in my future! lol.

The rotary cutter is definitely the way to go. Don't even have to mark it when using the quilting ruler and you get exact, smooth cuts in seconds.

[Charlie Rogers]

What is a Rotary cutter, even a pic would answer my question?

Charlie

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Charlie, google "sewing rotary cutter". Many photos of them. They are used to cut sewing material.

[jeanf]

Charlie, quilters and sewers use them with quilting rulers. This is a rotary cutter:

https://www.google.com/search?q=rotary+ ... 66&bih=651

[AnnieM]

This is a great post. Y'all are giving me an idea how I could modify the entrance of the Troyer TG that I use for my sparrow trap, and make it smaller. Was thinking I could attach "something" to the inside of the entrance, making it too small for martins but large enuf for HOSP. Have to be attached to inside so doesn't interfere with metal trap door when it falls down on the outside over the entrance. Am thinking the Coroplast stuff might work. This way I can leave it set up & not worry about trapping PM (as happened last year). The HOSP seem to like this particular gourd for some reason. Lucky for me. Thanks for the google link; I had no idea what the cutter was either. Something tells me my better half already has such a gadget in his shed. ("I never bought a tool I didn't need" ~ quote husband.)

[AnnieM]

Oh, Jean, forgot. Could you post a picture of the front of your Excluder II gourd with the new Coroplast porch?

BTW, I am jealous you already have your martins back and I am way south of you near San Antonio and STILL WAITING!!! LOL

[John Miller]

Cool.

An alternative material ...a piece of fake wood trim board. Very easy to cut and pre-painted white. lasts years. I get 2.5 inch wide and 8 foot lengths. I cut 3 inch long lenths and glue with a spot of construction glue. Fake trim comes in seveal types of material..some are hard PVC and are pricey. this one is more like very dense styrofoam-like material (not sure what it is), lightweight, easy to cut and inexpensive. John M

[jeanf]

Hey John,
The only thing with that is that on these type porches (the excluder II), the 2.5 wide wouldn't be large enough. It would leave some of the grooves on the porch exposed that the starlings could get their nasty little claws into to help push them in.

This coraplast is also already white and wasn't even $5 and I have enough for several years should I need to replace.

I wish I could zoom in enough with my video camera so everyone could see them trying so hard to get in and slipping all over the place. It's pretty funny to watch. I cant' help but let out a small maniacal laugh at them. lol.