Birds attacking reflective shadecloth!

[Selmo]

Has anyone else had this problem? The birds, starlings, have been stealing the reflective tinsel, for their nests. In the neighbors tin shed behind our back yard. And have tore three foot by one foot hole in the shade cloth. There was a twenty foot cherry tree about ten to fifteen away from the damage. So, we cut off all the limbs on that side of the tree. Now the tree is 25 to 30 feet away now. We hung some strips of cotton cloth from some of the remaining branches to move in the wind. Which would hopefully scare the birds away. Did not work. Hole got bigger. Last week we bought a owl decoy. Put the owl in the tree and so far the hole has stayed the same. Don't know if it is the owl or the starlings are done nesting now. Hopefully it is the owl. Has anyone else had this kind of problem and what worked best for you (gun?).Hope no body has really had to deal with this, but thanks in advance

[jkofferdahl]

A lot of people use this sort of structure in farm country where my sister lives. I see an awful lot of them with fake hawks on them. Most likely your owl is helping a lot.

[Subrosa]

Starlings are an invasive species directly responsible for the decline of the eastern bluebird and as such deserve no quarter. Terminate. Terminate with extreme prejudice. I once killed 6 with 2 shots from an air rifle. There's a mark to shoot for! Your owl will work but you have to move it occasionally. Birds are smart.

[Salixx]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

Starlings are an invasive species directly responsible for the decline of the eastern bluebird and as such deserve no quarter. Terminate. Terminate with extreme prejudice. I once killed 6 with 2 shots from an air rifle. There's a mark to shoot for! Your owl will work but you have to move it occasionally. Birds are smart.

I agree except that humans are responsible... They were intentionally intoduced, twice. First time didn't take. Some guy wanted to bring birds from Shakespeare to the new world.

Fake snakes on the shade cloth might help as well.

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by Salixx

I agree except that humans are responsible... They were intentionally intoduced, twice. First time didn't take. Some guy wanted to bring birds from Shakespeare to the new world.

Fake snakes on the shade cloth might help as well.

My understanding is that an unintentional release on Long Island near the end of the 19th century is responsible. But no matter, in either case it's a tough break for the starlings because it really is an either or situation between them and bluebirds in my area. My vote goes to bluebirds and I cast it every time I pull the trigger on a starling. Whatever decoy you use will lose effectiveness if you don't move it occasionally. Starlings are Corvids, closely related to crows. As such they're among the more demonstrably intelligent birds. They learn quickly.

[Dollythehun]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

Starlings are an invasive species directly responsible for the decline of the eastern bluebird and as such deserve no quarter. Terminate. Terminate with extreme prejudice. I once killed 6 with 2 shots from an air rifle. There's a mark to shoot for! Your owl will work but you have to move it occasionally. Birds are smart.

As are house sparrows. I have seen them peck female bluebirds to death as they sit on their nest. As bil says "megadeath!"

Of course, I have also seen our young bluebirds "play" with robins.