The starling bird’s scientific name is Sturnus vulgaris and they belong to the starling family.

They are quite a character with lovely singing voices. If one understands their behavior to a good degree they may learn to appreciate them for the quirky characters that they are. People who know their behavioral traits have come to love and even encourage starlings to come live in their gardens when they are in town. However, one cannot blame those who would not want to see them in their gardens during summer months because they can be noisy and raucous birds.

What do starlings look like?

In terms of size, they are smaller than blackbirds with a pointed head and short tail. Their wing shape is triangular wings. Their bodies may appear black if seen from a distant but a closer glance reveals their body feathers are very glossy with a sheen of greens and purples.

What do they feed on

The starling will descend to feed on the ground on unhusked grains and invertebrates. During the summer, the mainly feed on worms while in the winter months they will switch to berries and fruit. As the seasons overlap into each other the starling will feed on a mixture of both depending on what is readily available. Some homes have taken to inviting the starling bird into their home garden by hanging food stations around the house and in the garden. In case one is wondering what they can put on a mesh feeder to attract the Sterling to their garden, balls, pellets or blocks will do as well peanuts in mesh feeders. Sunflower seeds are not the best choice for starlings as they often are unable to remove the husk.

Since the populations of starling have dwindled immensely, the bird family has been red listed. Concerned sympathizers have taken to welcoming this amazing bird in the summer and help in feeding them by availing mesh feeders full of bird food in their garden to help the birds survive and hopefully eventually recover their former numbers.

Starling birds are quite the entertainers

Over and above singing beautifully, starlings have the ability to imitate other common birds. Part of their adaptation is quick and frenzied communal feeding. They will hog a food station and eat voraciously with bewildering speed. This can be misconstrued for gluttony, but it’s not, because of their numbers, they often feed very quickly to ensure that each bird gets a share. If one has this knowledge they will tend to love the birds as opposed to finding their manners undesirable.

Perhaps one of the amazing spectacles of the sky is watching hundreds, thousands and in some cases millions of starling birds come to roosts in plantations, reed beds and city centers. Starlings are perhaps better known for their grand aerial displays of moving as a block of one wave in the skies forming shapes and random patterns with amazing unison. This sky dance is called murmarization. Their ability to move in such high numbers as a unit is truly mesmerizing. I

Conclusion

Unfortunately the population of these amazing birds has been on the decline, adopting the cause to help them survive is noble. Inviting them to your garden, feeding them during the summer is small way to help them stay alive and hopefully revert to their former or even bigger populations. The good news is that even with dropping population of this amazing bird, there are still about 800,000 breeding pairs of starlings in the UK.

Birds are beautiful creatures. They perfectly symbolize freedom. They can fly anywhere they wish and nest on places they find ideal for them. While they’re certainly beautiful to look at, they are sometimes considered nuisance pests. Because the sky above your home is beyond your control, it is best for you to learn more about bird prevention tips so you can effectively keep them away.

In Phoenix, Arizona, many homeowners consider birds as pests. Their droppings can be very difficult to clean and can also cause serious damage to property. Bird droppings are very acidic. When these aren’t removed or cleaned up immediately, they can easily damage wood, metal, plastic, vinyl, paint, and other commonly used materials around your household. These droppings can cause pricey damage to roofs, cars, and other belongings.

Aside from the stress and damage to property they bring, these birds can also cause serious health risks. For instance, pigeons, which are very common in Phoenix, can transmit a number of diseases. Smaller birds can take with them an infestation of ticks, mites, and fleas. Furthermore, their droppings can be a source of viruses and other diseases.

As always, prevention is better than cure. Even before birds start becoming pests in your property, it’s best to prevent them from being around your own private space in the first place. Here are some tips you can keep in mind:

1. Do a regular spot check on your entire property for possible bird nests.

Birds will come back again and again when they have already built their nest in your property. These nests aren’t only found in trees; they can also be found in chimneys, vents, roof drains, and others. When you check on your property, make sure you remove these nests as well.

2. Don’t leave possible food sources lying around.

Depending on their species, birds may eat fruits, worms, bird feed, grains, seeds, and many more. It is best for you to make sure they have nothing to feed on in your property. Of course, you can’t possibly pick up all the worms in your garden or eliminate all of your fruit trees, if you have any. At least you should avoid leaving grains and seeds lying around by making sure your property is always clean and well-maintained.

3. Consider using bird repellent sprays.

There are some bird repellent sprays and chemicals that may be applied on to your roof, porch, and other areas around your home where you frequently find birds resting. You may consider using these to keep many of these bird species out.

4. Bird spikes may also be installed across your property.

Some would think it’s inhumane to install bird spikes in houses. However, birds don’t actually get killed by these spikes. They can go ahead and rest elsewhere, but not on those spikes in your property. Truth be told, when all else fails, bird spikes might just be your next best option to keep birds out.

Birds are difficult to control since they are free to fly anywhere they wish. In fact, many of their species are even protected by law. When dealing with a serious bird problem and your own DIY bird prevention methods simply didn’t work, it is time to call on the experts. Watchdog Pest Control is a top pest control contractor in the Phoenix, Arizona area. We can help you out. Give us a call at 602-842-5290 for an appointment.