Those pesky starlings ! ! !

[Kleftiwallah]

Is there a size of wire/plastic mesh with which I can surround a bowl of mealworm to allow robins and tits access but stop the starlings? They get their share of mealworms and maggots but the smaller birds never get a look in. (in inches or parts therof). Cheers, Tony.

[shenk1]

We have exactly the same problem - they are eating us out of house and home.

Try this feeder ,the worms go in a dish fitted in the middle.The robin can get in but he doesn't like it so we still have to feed him on the floor and shoo off the starlings untill he's had his fill.They are so clever though that they follow him around as they know he will get fed They also hang on the feeder and mug the birds as they come out
Can't remember where we go it but it could have been Garden Bird Supplies.

Thats the only photo I have of it.The birds get in through larger holes and a starling did get stucck once so I made the holes a little smaller by squeezing the wire in.

[Kleftiwallah]

I've seen the items you refer to, dig out the measuring stick and tell me the mesh size please. I intend to place the bowl of worms on the ground. Cheers, Tony.

[shenk1]

The mesh size is 2.5 cm (1 inch) square and the cut out hole is 5.5cm x 3.5cm and the littlebirds enter through that.Any bigger and starlings get in ,as you can see I had to squeeze the wire in to keep them out.I think they went on a diet just to do it!

Hope this helps!

shenk1

[Kleftiwallah]

It helps a great deal. Only needed to buy mesh, bowl etc I already have. Cheers, Tony.

[shenk1]

No problem and good luck!

They are the most annoying birds in the garden but that is simply because they are so good at finding food ,as soon as some goes out they appear from nowhere and finish the lot in secondsTotal teamwork!
Seen close up they are also one of the most colourful birds around

[Vixen]

I love my starlings, I try and even things out by having food out the back and the front garden not always an easy thing to do.

We have a Nest in one of the houses at the back so will have fledglings harrasing there parents soon.

I love it, loud anoying bird but so beautiful.

[Gill Catton]

I'll just point out that its starling that most need our help. Robins and blue tit populations are doing fine (and will be out eating natural wild food mainly at the moment).

Starling populations however are in massive decline on a national scale. They might be loud and bolshy but really they perhaps need our help more than the other species.

[shenk1]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

I'll just point out that its starling that most need our help. Robins and blue tit populations are doing fine (and will be out eating natural wild food mainly at the moment).

Starling populations however are in massive decline on a national scale. They might be loud and bolshy but really they perhaps need our help more than the other species.

Very true!

Thats why we've gone through 10kg of mealworms in the last 6 weeks

[BloomingMarvellous]

Spent a few hours today watching the parents work so hard to feed their hungry brood.



I could of watched them all day.