S & S CONTROL

[e p jones]

re: elimination of house sparrows and european starlings

1. In areas where there are significant numbers of starlings, certainly the SREH entrances provide very good deterrents to cavity entry.

2. The various designs of ground traps do a fairly good job with both hosp and starlings; caution--all traps should be closely monitored (at least a couple times per day) for entrapment of other species

3. When either/both starlings or hosp begin to build a nest in a particular cavity, an "in box" trap is usually very effective within minutes, but also should be monitored.

4. Using a good quality pellet gun (preferably w/ scope), both starlings and hosp can be eliminated from the area of your nest cavities. One problem is errant shots toward distant housing can both damage housing and hit an unintended target (bird). Larger artillery is also effective where locally allowed.

5. Another idea, to consider in the pellet-shooting wars, is to mount a feeder (we prefer suet feeder block in a re-closable wire basket mounted on a shepherd's hook) much closer to our back door or other structure.
This is a very good year-round elimination technique and allows for some stealth (e.g. behind a partially opened door) and shooter's comfort.
We have found both starlings and hosp are attracted likes magnets, and we can get within less than 15-20 feet.
Depending on your location: woodpeckers (even pileated), cardinals, juncos, flickers, grackles, jays, etc. are easily attracted & viewed and help "convince" the targets that the area is safe to feed.
Much easier if you can make the first shot count each time.