How to Get Rid Of Grackles and Starlings? 25 ways that works

If you are a bird enthusiast, nothing can be more frustrating than seeing a group of “bully birds” such as grackles and starlings taking over your feeders and scaring away other songbirds with their aggressive behavior. Getting rid of these birds is a common concern among bird watchers. Grackles and starlings often form large flocks and infest fields and parks, causing excessive noise and leaving behind disease-carrying droppings while displacing other species.

In this article, we will provide you with the most effective conventional methods to eliminate grackles and starlings.

1. Change Your Seed Offerings:

Grackles and starlings prefer foods like bread, maize, millet, wheat, and sunflower seeds. Instead, offer them food that they dislike such as thistle and nyjer seeds preferred by finches, or safflower seeds preferred by cardinals, chickadees, and nuthatches. This will force the grackles and starlings to seek food elsewhere.

2. Sound Repelling:

One effective method of keeping grackles and starlings away is by using sound repellents in combination with reflective eye diverters or predator noises. Most repellents use ultrasonic frequencies, but since the audible frequencies of many birds vary greatly, it is important to ensure that the ultrasonic repellent is specifically designed to target grackles and starlings.

3. Eliminate Nesting Possibilities:

Starlings often build their nests in the cavities, vents, and other small openings of homes. To prevent them from nesting in your vents, inspect your property for potential nesting sites and use vent covers to seal them.

4. Build a Bird Feeder Cage:

Another way to keep grackles and starlings away is by putting bird food in cages. The small birds you wish to attract, such as chickadees, finches, and cardinals, will still be able to access the food while the larger birds will be unable to.

5. Remove Stable Water:

Starlings and other blackbirds often rest and play in water sources such as bird baths and ditches. Removing these water sources and covering puddles with dirt or pebbles can prevent grackles and starlings from perching near the water.

6. Reduce the Length of Hooks of Tube Feeders:

Starlings and grackles often have a hard time standing on shorter perches. Shortening the perches on tube feeders can make it difficult for them to access the food, while smaller birds like goldfinches, chickadees, and titmice will still be able to eat.

7. Use a Decoy Owl:

Placing a decoy owl near your bird feeder can deter grackles and starlings, as they perceive owls as a potential threat.

8. Use a Net:

Covering your bird feeder with a net can prevent grackles and starlings from accessing the food. This method is also effective for keeping squirrels and other animals away from the feeder.

9. Use a Baffle:

Placing a baffle, a dome-shaped device, above or below the bird feeder can prevent grackles and starlings from landing on the feeder.

10. Use a Spray Repellent:

There are several spray repellents available on the market that can be used to keep grackles and starlings away. These sprays usually contain a bitter or spicy flavor that the birds find unappealing.

11. Use a Reflective Surface:

Grackles and starlings are often deterred by reflective surfaces, such as shiny objects or aluminum foil. Placing a reflective surface near your bird feeder can discourage them from approaching.

12. Use a Visual Repellent:

Grackles and starlings are often deterred by visual repellents, such as plastic snakes or fake owls. These can be placed near your bird feeder to keep the birds away.

13. Use a Motion-Activated Sprinkler:

A motion-activated sprinkler can be set up near your bird feeder to scare away grackles and starlings with a sudden burst of water.

14. Use a Sonic Repellent:

Sonic repellents emit a high-pitched noise that grackles and starlings find uncomfortable. These can be placed near your bird feeder to keep the birds away.

15. Use a Professional Service:

If all else fails, you can hire a professional service to remove grackles and starlings from your property. These services often use a combination of methods, such as traps, repellents, and exclusion devices, to effectively remove the birds.

It is important to note that while these methods can be effective in getting rid of grackles and starlings, they may not completely eliminate the problem. It is also important to ensure that any methods used to comply with local laws and regulations regarding the removal of wildlife.

16. Use a birdhouse trap:

A birdhouse trap is a device that captures birds and keeps them alive until they are released, it is a humane way to remove the birds from your property, and it is often used by professional services.

17. Use a trap cage:

These are cages that are designed to trap birds, it comes with a one-way door that allows the birds to enter but not exit, it is a humane way to remove birds and it is often used by professional services.

18. Use bird spikes:

These are pointed devices that are placed on surfaces that birds like to perch on, such as eaves, ledges, and window sills, it prevents birds from landing and nesting on these surfaces, it is a physical barrier that is often used to keep birds away from buildings and other structures.

19. Use a bird gel:

This is a sticky gel that is applied to surfaces that birds like to perch on. It makes the surfaces uncomfortable for birds to land and roosts. It is a humane way to keep birds away and it is often used to protect buildings and other structures.

20. Use a bird wire:

These are thin wire cables that are strung across surfaces that birds like to perch on. It creates an unstable surface that birds find uncomfortable. It is a humane way to keep birds away and it is often used to protect buildings and other structures.

It’s worth noting that some of the methods listed above, such as trapping and killing the birds, may be illegal in certain areas and should be avoided. It’s important to check your local laws and regulations before attempting to remove grackles and starlings from your property.

21. Use bird deterrents specifically designed for grackles and starlings:

There are many bird deterrents on the market that are specifically designed to repel grackles and starlings. These products come in different forms such as visual, audible, and scent-based deterrents. These deterrents are particularly effective when used in combination with other methods.

22. Use of bird-proofing products:

There is a wide range of bird-proofing products available such as bird netting, bird spikes, and bird wire that are specifically designed to prevent birds from accessing certain areas. These products are particularly effective when used to protect buildings, structures, and gardens from grackles and starlings.

23. Create an unpalatable environment:

Starlings and grackles are known to be very opportunistic feeders, they will eat almost anything they find. By creating an unpalatable environment, you can discourage them from staying in your area. This can be done by planting certain plants or trees that are not appealing to them or by using repellent sprays or granules on the plants.

24. Use a bird roost inhibitor:

These are devices that emit a strobe light, sound, or water mist that disrupts the birds’ roosting and resting behavior. This method is particularly effective when used at night when grackles and starlings are more likely to roost.

25. Use a bird exclusion:

This method involves making physical changes to the structure of a building or area to prevent birds from entering. This can be done by closing off entry points, such as vents, chimneys, and eaves, Or by installing bird-proofing products such as bird netting or bird spikes.

It’s essential to remember that when trying to get rid of grackles and starlings, use a combination of methods. Each situation is different, and some methods may work better than others. The most important thing is to act humanely and comply with local laws and regulations.

FAQS:

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are several methods that can be used to deter starlings and blackbirds from visiting bird feeders and gardens. One effective method is to use shelled peanuts, which are difficult for starlings to access due to their weak beaks. However, this method may not be as effective against grackles.

Other methods include using bird netting or thread to physically block birds, setting up decoys or live animals to create the illusion of a predator, and using noisemakers to scare birds away. It’s important to note that these methods may need to be used in combination for the best results. Also that local laws and regulations should be followed when attempting to remove birds from your property.