The European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a highly successful invasive species in North America, introduced to New York City’s Central Park in 1890. Today, the population is estimated to be around 150 million birds, having spread across the continent due to their ability to adapt to diverse habitats and food sources. Starlings are widely considered a nuisance because their massive flocks cause significant agricultural damage, especially to fruit crops like cherries, grapes, and peaches. Their droppings create unsanitary conditions in urban and suburban areas, leading to property damage and potential health concerns. They also aggressively compete with native cavity-nesting birds, such as bluebirds and purple martins, for limited nesting sites.
Understanding the Legal Status for Control
The ability to control the European Starling relates directly to its status as a non-native species. Starlings are not protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) because they were introduced to the United States. This exemption allows for their control and removal without requiring federal permits.
While the lack of federal protection provides flexibility, any control program must still adhere to state and local regulations. These local laws may restrict certain methods, such as the use of firearms, specific trapping practices, or the application of chemical control agents. Consulting with state wildlife officials is necessary to ensure compliance before initiating any control measures.
Structural Control and Exclusion Methods
Structural control is generally the most effective and permanent solution for managing starling problems, particularly when they involve structures like homes, barns, or loading docks. The primary goal is to physically block access to perching, roosting, and nesting sites. Closing all openings larger than one inch (2.5 cm) is crucial, as starlings can easily enter through small gaps in buildings.
To prevent nesting inside buildings, holes, vents, and eaves should be sealed with durable materials like heavy-duty wire mesh or hardware cloth. For large entryways in farm buildings, heavy plastic or rubber strips hung vertically can exclude birds while still allowing passage. These strips should be approximately ten inches wide and hung with no more than two-inch gaps between them for maximum effectiveness.
Netting is a highly successful exclusion method for protecting valuable assets, including fruit crops, building overhangs, and the undersides of roof beams. For starlings, netting with a mesh size of one inch or less is recommended to ensure complete exclusion. For ledges and beams where starlings roost, physical barriers such as bird spikes, tension wires, or sloped surfaces can be installed. Placing wood, metal, or Plexiglas coverings over ledges at a 45-degree angle prevents the birds from getting a secure footing.
Habitat Modification
Habitat modification plays a preventative role by eliminating easy food and water sources that attract starlings to a property. Securing garbage, removing fallen fruit, and ensuring outdoor pet food is not left accessible reduces the incentive for flocks to congregate. Simple changes, such as eliminating standing water or using bird feeders that dispense feed larger than 0.5 inches in diameter, can make the area far less hospitable to starlings.
Active Deterrence and Removal Techniques
Active deterrence methods aim to scare starlings away from a location once they have established a presence, often employing a combination of sensory inputs. Acoustic deterrents, which use recorded distress calls or predator sounds, can be temporarily effective in dispersing flocks. To prevent birds from becoming accustomed to the sounds, these devices must be used irregularly and reinforced by frequently changing their location.
Visual deterrents, such as reflective tape, Mylar balloons, or predator effigies, are generally less potent on their own because starlings quickly adapt to them. Combining visual elements with other forms of harassment, like noise-making devices, increases the overall impact and delays habituation. High-frequency ultrasonic devices are not effective because starlings cannot hear sounds in that range.
Removal Techniques
For situations where deterrence fails or a permanent reduction in population is necessary, removal techniques are available. Trapping, especially using repeating live traps or decoy traps, can be effective in reducing localized populations, particularly near livestock facilities or orchards. Decoy traps operate best when a few starlings are left inside with food and water to attract others.
Lethal methods are permissible due to the starling’s unprotected status, but they are often restricted to professional use and must comply with all local laws. Controlled shooting can be used as a dispersal technique to reinforce other frightening methods, though it is not a practical way to reduce large populations. Avicides, such as DRC-1339 (Starlicide) or Avitrol, are chemical agents that can be used to control starling populations, but their use is restricted to licensed technicians in specific agricultural or industrial settings.