Outdoor Ontario

Discussion => Behaviour => Topic started by: Cody on May 01, 2009, 06:58:47 PM

Title: Major Problem!
Post by: Cody on May 01, 2009, 06:58:47 PM: When I was in my backyard this evening getting some Turkey Vulture pictures and videos, I noticed a European Starling fly by with nesting material it it's mouth. I watched to see where it was going and it landed on my neighbors fence. Then it hopped in to the Barbecue! It appears as if the Starlings are building a nest in my neighbors BBQ.

What should I do other then notifying my neighbors?

Thanks,
Cody
Title: Nest
Post by: JTF on May 01, 2009, 07:35:09 PM: I had a chipmunk nest in mine this winter. When I went to open this year there it was, no young so I just cleaned it out. Just let the neighbours know is all you can do.
Title:
Post by: Cody on May 01, 2009, 07:38:48 PM: :lol: A chipmunk in your BBQ! Did you get any pictures of it in there?

And yes I guess that is the only possibility. Thanks for replying!
Title:
Post by: Greg Schneider on May 01, 2009, 07:58:08 PM: Sorry for being harsh, but it's a starling. Most other bird species would be better off if they didn't exist.
Title:
Post by: Cody on May 01, 2009, 08:08:04 PM: That's okay. I'm new to birding and "European Starling" is the only thing I could find in my Bird ID book. Thanks for the information!
Title: Re: Major Problem!
Post by: MLady on May 09, 2009, 06:58:57 AM: Quote from: "Cody"
When I was in my backyard this evening getting some Turkey Vulture pictures and videos, I noticed a European Starling fly by with nesting material it it's mouth. I watched to see where it was going and it landed on my neighbors fence. Then it hopped in to the Barbecue! It appears as if the Starlings are building a nest in my neighbors BBQ.

What should I do other then notifying my neighbors?

Thanks,
Cody

Cody I just saw this message and if the starlings are still there the nest can be destoryed as well as any eggs that are in it. These birds are considered pests and are not protected under the migratory laws.

Cheers,
Kathy
Title:
Post by: Cody on May 09, 2009, 03:17:31 PM: The Starlings moved the nest to a part of a House's roof 2 days ago. The Starlings haven't been near the BBQ since my neighbor opened the lid on top.

The Government should change those rules because why would anyone want to kill birds and baby birds.
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Post by: Bluffs Birder on May 09, 2009, 07:07:21 PM: Hi Cody,

Just to let you know a little about the history of the European Starling. Not many a "Birding" book speaks very highly of them as they are regarded as pests. They are however a very beautiful bird in their own right, especially when the sunlight shines on their iridescent feathers, the colours can be incredible. The real problem with Starlings is that there are way way way too many of them.

- introduced to North America in 1890 by releasing 60 birds in New York's Central Park
- those 60 birds stormed over the North American continent and reached the Pacific Coast in a mere 60 years
- during their march across the continent they outcompeted many native birds of their nesting habitats
- within 100 years of their release, the numbers of Starlings grew to well over 200,000,000
- over the years many attempts have been made to reduce the "out of control" numbers of these aggressors, sometimes killing off well over one million birds at a time and it hasn't put a dent in the population

The next time you go out birding for Eastern Bluebirds, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Great Crested Flycatchers as well as many other native birds and you find them very difficult to locate, you can thank the European Starling in a large part for their declining numbers. Hope this helps you.

Happy Birding!
Walter :D
Title:
Post by: Cody on May 09, 2009, 08:03:42 PM: Thanks for the information. I agree, they have tricked me high up in trees for other types of birds.

BTW: Where can you see things like Eastern Bluebirds, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Great Crested Flycatchers......... in the Niagara Region?