How to Stop Starlings or Grackle Infestations

 

 

How to Stop Starlings or Grackle Infestations

 

Starlings and grackles are pest birds that can cause very serious issues. Often in flocks of thousands of birds, they can overwhelm trees or buildings, whitewashing everything with their sprayed feces. This creates a slip and fall hazard, plus if the feces are not cleaned up, this can lead to structural damage from the uric acid which can corrode all kinds of substrates. Nesting materials can clog pipes and gutters causing water backup damage. Nests are often found in exhaust vents and ductwork which can cause fire hazards and indoor air quality issues as the bacteria, fungal agents and ectoparasites found in starling droppings and nesting materials are responsible for a host of serious diseases, including histoplasmosis, encephalitis, salmonella, meningitis, toxoplasmosis and more. Their huge flocks damage crops and pose a birdstrike threat to airplanes when they gather near airports.

 

If starlings are flocking in trees and on buildings near your home, there are several steps you should take to protect your buildings, and then move these pest birds to a new location.

First make sure that any food sources they may be accessing are sealed off.  This includes bird feeders (temporarily), open dumpsters, garbage cans, pet feeders, etc.

Then be sure to seal off any open areas over 1 inch in size such as vents, ducts, windows, chimneys, etc.

You can make the trees on the property less attractive to these problem birds by pruning them as they will offer less protective cover for them as a roosting spot.

Large infestations of these pest birds can usually be resolved using a combination of audio and visual bird scare deterrents to create the realistic threat of predators in the area.  Placing a few Holographic Owls on Swivel Brackets around the area the starlings/grackles are infesting will move with the breeze making it seems more lifelike and reflect light unique holographic / iridescent feather pattern, large eyes and movement deters even persistent birds.  Pairing these Owls with Bird Scare Mylar Flash Tape which makes a slight humming sound as it twists in the breeze and reflects the light in flashes all over makes it appear that a predator is darting in different areas for the starlings and they feel unsafe in the area.  Especially for larger flocks and larger areas to protect, you can also hang some Bird Scare Eye Balloons where they will move in the breeze.  With their huge predator-like eyes and reflective flash tape creating the illusion of movement they create another predator threat in the minds of the pest birds.  Finally, add in the audio bird scarer to really amp up the predator threat effect. The Bird Xpeller Pro has specific bird species distress calls and predator attack cries to confuse and disorient the birds, causing them to seek a calmer space.  Further, when the starlings here the distress and attack cries, they will communicate to other birds there is danger, increasing the pest birds’ motivation to move to a safer area.  The Bird Xpeller Pro is programmable with on/off and volume control, a “time off” phase between sounds and a day/night or 24 hour selection. 

 

In extreme cases, where the starlings are determined to remain, you can net the trees off with Bird Net, denying access completely.  This works great for agricultural settings where the crop is inside the trees to stop the birds from accessing the fruit.

If starlings and grackles are nesting on your buildings, after you seal off any openings with Bird Net, you will want to look at installing some Bird-Shock Flex Track along ledges and other areas where the starlings/grackles are nesting/roosting.  Flex Track uses a harmless, pulsating electrical shock, similar to a static electricity shock, to deter these pest birds from roosting and nesting sites. This low-profile bird control product system consists of solar or A.C. powered charger unit, stainless steel components and aesthetically pleasing U.V. stable flexible PVC track available in black, beige, brick red or gray colors.   

Finally, for areas on the building that are harder to access to install Bird-Shock Flex Track or Bird Net, you can use Bird Free Optical Repellent Gel dishes.  This Optical Repellent Gel consists of multi-sensory components (visual, olfactory, taste, and touch sense) and all of these biological components work simultaneously to

create an illusion of flames because of the birds’ ability to see in the ultraviolet light zone plus the smell of peppermint (which they hate).  As starlings approach the primary roosting site their flight path and behavioral landing pattern is altered because they think they are being confronted with a wall of fire.  The preloaded gel dishes are low profile, highly resistant to extreme temperatures, will not drip and can be secured almost anywhere to deter the birds.

 

If you have starling or grackle problems and are unsure which would be the best bird deterrents to use, feel free to call us at 855-741-3222 or email us at mark@birdsgottago.com. We can assist you with determining the right product(s) to order and/or recommend an expert local installer if your maintenance team needs on site guidance.