How to Catch Starlings with a Tomahawk Trap 2019
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 มิ.ย. 2024
- Learn how to trap invasive starlings with a Tomahawk starling bird trap.
Items in video
Tomahawk Starling Trap: amzn.to/2F6t8l2
Stokes Suet Feeder: amzn.to/2Tv4hjD
Peanut Delight Suet: amzn.to/2XSlH8j
More on trapping starlings
Euthanizing Birds: www.sialis.org/hospdispatch.htm
Learn about Starling Control: bit.ly/StarlingControl
Homemade Suet Recipe bit.ly/HomemadeSuetRecipe
Rules to Follow
1. When operating the trap, there are a few rules you need to follow.
2. Only use it when starlings are visiting your yard eating suet.
3. Place the trap where it is visible from inside your house so you can see when birds are caught.
4. When in use, monitor the trap frequently. Starlings can escape and native birds may get caught.
5. If a native bird is captured, it should be released immediately. To release a native bird, just open the door and it will fly out.
6. In Topeka, I’ve caught American robins, common grackles, dark-eyed juncos, and yellow-rumped warblers. But there are many kinds of birds that like peanut suet, so expect others.
7. If you can’t monitor for a period of time, block the funnels or open the door of the trap.
8. Be careful when removing starlings from the trap so that they don’t escape.
9. Beware. They will use their long pointed bill to stab and bite you. You should wear gloves when handling them.
10. Do not leave starlings in the trap too long. Remove them shortly after capturing them to prevent birds from escaping.
11. Don’t release starlings somewhere else as that just moves the problem. Instead, they should be humanely euthanized.
12. There is a link in the description to learn more about euthanizing starlings.
Equipment Used to Make this Video
(Camera)
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS 12MP Digital Camera with 2.8-Inch LCD
amzn.to/2G6OgGH
(Tripod)
Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 055 Aluminium 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column
amzn.to/2oTp7Yq
(Head)
Manfrotto 128RC Micro Fluid Head with 200PL 14 RC2 Rapid Connector Plate
amzn.to/2FFO9Ep
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows me to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!
I hunt these with my gamo pellet gun, my all time record is 89 birds in 1 day. Theyre absolutely everywhere here in Oregon.
Thank you for what you do
I don't get an overabundance of them here, but they meet the same fate. After pinging a few off, the rest seem to learn what a "no fly zone" is. 😉👍😁
It’s very refreshing to find a birder who has the gumption and conviction to do what it takes to protect natural biological diversity.
Thank you. I'm seeing more people follows suit which is nice. And of course there are the haters!
@@BackyardBirdsUS Ignore the haters. They are all liberals. They elected a president with dementia! I need say no more.
You should find the Managing House Sparrows and Starlings group on two-faced-book. Great group of mostly like-minded people, who want to eliminate as many invasive species as we can.
I'm so glad to find this. I hung a bird feeder out last year to create a "cat TV" (cat sits in the window, is never allowed to go outside) and found a love for it. I had no idea my area still had so many species of wild birds. I've seen and despised the starlings for years, but my only thought was to try and shoot them with an air rifle. Impractical, and as a responsible firearm owner it's irresponsible in a suburban setting.
I'm glad you advocate for euthanasia rather than release. I hope that one day we can rid North America of starlings.
Thank you. I really think trapping is the answer to reduce their numbers. It works.
Thank you so much for all the work you did to provide good clear info on starlings and sparrows. Much of this info has helped me alot.
That's fantastic news. I make these videos to help people help our wildlife. I'm so glad I helped you. Thanks so much.
As for eating starlings, there are a few good recipes out there:
-Escoffier, in his 1903 french bible of cooking Le Guide Culinaire
AND:
-Starling stew with olives, from Turkey where it's known as "Karatavuk yahnisi," from Calvin Schwabe's book "Unmentionable Cuisine":
"Fry some chopped turnips and carrots. Add a little stock and a glass of red wine. Place some starlings or other small birds in the pan. Add a thin purée of boiled potatoes mashed with beaten eggs, dry mustard, and some stock and a little beer. Cover with stock and cook for about 30 minutes, adding some ripe olives near the end."
This is very good information. Thank you for sharing.
Wow this is incredible information thank you so much for sharing. I’m very impressed with your capture rate. Looking forward to doing it in my backyard where a group of starlings just over took a red bellied woodpecker nest in my yard. Hate them!
I'm still sorry they got the red bellied woodpecker. I still have a few that i can't trap. They are so sneaky.
WONDERFUL! red headed woodpeckers are in decline in ontario where I live due to starlings taking nest cavities. I look forward to trapping as many as i can!
Good for you Nigel. They are in decline everywhere and starlings are aggressive competitors. Get em!
Excellent and inn formative video ! Many thanks ! This is helpful to us . Just have to come up with a good dispatch method.
Glad to help. Lots of dispatch choices. Find what works for you.
When I retire and move, hope to start a European starling and HOSP removal service.
Sounds like the perfect hobby!
I am a security guard at a busy shopping center and it amazes me how big a problem starlings are! I have seen how they completely cover people cars with their poop every single day! Sometimes I would see about a million of them completely blackened parts of the sky in the morning! They are not only destructive to native birds, but they are destructive to people's homes and businesses as well. They could completely cover a rooftop with their feces and cause electrical and air ventilation problems when they build their nests in places where those things are housed. I often have to tell those stubborn idiots to stop feeding them in my shopping center because the people that work there do not like their cars being covered in starling and seagull poop!
@@grandwonder5858 ok… but it’s not their fault they’re causing problems. People brought them here in the first place so they’re here to stay
@@cazu2479 That won't stop me and others from killing as many as we can. To be fair, I don't think the people that brought them here had any idea of the problems they would create in the new world. Starlings may just be doing what starlings do, but I'm a gonna do what I do.
Well said. We all can make the choice to deal with the starling problem or ignore it.
I am going to start doing this been feeding them for years. But no more. Wish to help native only
This is great news. The native birds thank you. Trust me. They really can tell that you are helping them.
Same here, had no idea how bad they were
Thank you for the great video. I'm a purple martin landlord, and even with Starling resistant openings on gourds....I still get starlings. And they are unbelievably smart! They do not see me as a threat, until I dispatch the first one...after that, they fly away as soon as they see me making is super difficult to try to get them. Going to try this trap!
They are too smart and knows if you are after them. But you can still get them. Good luck.
I just want to say that thank you so much for what you're doing because you are saving our native birds especially the woodpeckers from these garbage Birds and they are highly invasive and destructive to ecosystems.
Hearing from you energized me to continue. One reason I do this is I think conservation groups are not addressing the problem. So people have to do it. Thank you times ten.
You do a great service to native birds by reducing the starling population. I appreciate the video and will most certainly be picking one of these up; I have been seeing a lot more starlings in my yard recently.
That's very good news that you will help reduce their numbers. Good for you. There is strength in numbers.
I don't appreciate what you do and how you encourage others to catch birds. Human beings are the causer of the all catastrophe happening and not the birds 😢😢😢
@@basheechaki1309Starlings literally murder other birds to steal their stuff. Maybe learn that humans aren't the source of all problems & then educate yourself on the very aggressive Starling...
They are ranked in the Top 5 of intelligent birds, extremely emotional and firm tremendous bonds. I have lived with 2 such reescued birds, sad that most people are so unaware of how even Shakespeare and Mozart felt about them.
?
They talk and make great pets
Being intelligent doesn't make them any less invasive and damaging to our native birds. I'm sure a pet starling is amazing. But in the wild they are aggressive and damaging.
They only make good pets if you can get a baby one in hand raise it. A wild one is not going to make a good pet
They out-compete and kill our native birds. Shakespeare lived in England. That is where they belong. They kill our swallows and Martins. I have nothing against them, if they are in their native territory. That is not my backyard, so they are humanely removed from my property (as well as other invasive species). I (and the finches, martins, and swallows) would welcome you to stop by and remove them.
Jeff: I hope you get well soon! I bought a Sparrow repeater and trapped 4 Starlings in the first hour. I clip their wings and take them to a wildlife refuge so hawks can eat them. I am now beginning to build the starling trap. My only modification will be a wireless motion detector so I get an immediate feedback. I suspect I will get 100+ in a year. I encourage everyone to go this route. The effectiveness of the traps is amazing.
That's fantastic news. Everyone that traps starlings is making a difference. You are the greatest. Thank you.
@@BackyardBirdsUS 20 Starlings in the first 24 hours. Sparrows will just have to wait.
Incredible. You must have thousands.
What bait are you using
@@BackyardBirdsUS Right now only peanut suet. I will add peanuts and popcorn as needed. But they have been eating on my bird feeder for years and they come here daily. I don't have thousands but I might have 100. They just don't seem to understand the trap. Do you like me feeding them to hawks?
That was very interesting. So far, I haven't had any trouble with Starlings. Very cool trick how you used the cage as a grater for the suet! Subscribed and hit the 🔔
Thank you for subscribing.
Thank-you for your inspiring and helpful video. I have just finished making a starling trap and is is outside and baited. The last few years the starlings have really taken over my yard, they have chased away all my woodpeckers and many other birds. I watched them this spring kick some other birds out of their house and I decided I needed to do something, so once again thank you for your ideas.
I am so glad. Sounds like you are experiencing the same thing I did. It's good to be able to trap these invasives! Thanks for your good work!
I’ve taken out a lot of starlings in my area and a few years later, little friends have returned, blue tits, robins, sparrows and wrens. I still keep trapping the starlings and dispatching them.
You are my idol. Good for you!
Whats your favourite trap and thanks for the tips I love your videos keep up the good work.🐦
I like any trap the catches starlings. I think the peegee trap is my favorite
I'm from Topeka, born and raised. I live in Phoenix now, and Spokane WA before that, and still have issues with starlings. Thanks for the video.
Good to hear from you. Starlings seem to be everywhere.
@@BackyardBirdsUS they are obviously everywhere
Definitely getting one of these traps.
It definitely works. I also made a video on making your own. You should check it out.
Clear, concise directions... thank you so much! Awesome that the native birds, especially woodpeckers, are able to nest around your area again! Do you have better luck with this one, or your homemade version? Or about the same?
I actually like the home made version that only has one entrance. I also think the opening to the tomahawk is too large. But it does catch a lot of starlings!
@@BackyardBirdsUS Thank you for your response, your timing is amazing! Guess what I JUST saw about a half hour ago for the first time this year?! A damn Starling on my Bluebird house! UR!!! He or she hasn't gone in it... I think because we have the opening exactly 1 1/2 inches with a metal guard around it, so I've only ever seen them poke their heads in, and never actually go inside of it... still scares me though! Talked to my husband and he's going to price the materials today against the cost of a Tomahawk to see if putting the time into making one is worth it to him. Either way, hopefully we will have one in use soon, as I know where there's one Starling, there will be more to follow. =/ Thank you again!
I have been having trouble with starlings for many years, but they have been causing damage to my house for years.
I have plugged the holes and other areas they used for nesting in my house, but they would rip open other areas or the same areas just to nest again.
The house damage was bad enough, but the cars were also targeted heavily...
I don't want to become the old critter killer, but I am tired of climbing ladders to fix damage. What is the best ways of trapping the starlings primarily, and house sparrows?
Do the traps work better on the ground, or elevated?
Thanks!
Trap them using nest box traps during breeding season, baited traps in the winter. I have videos on both methods. Also try joining Facebook group on "starling control"
Good vid, and good information. Do you have, or know where I can find information on the tomahawk trap and the myna trap, like specification, lengths, widths, ect?
You can buy the tomahawk but I made a video showing how to make a similar trap. Personally I like my trap better than the tomahawk.
There are instructions for the myna trap of you search for it in Australia where it is used.
Where did you get or what materials/plans did you use for the smaller cage shown at the 5:31 mark? TIA
Great question and thanks for the link. I made that with half inch by inch cage wire but you could make it with inch by inch cage wire. I got it sat s farm store like tsc. I really like inch by inch as you can cut the wire to leave one inch ends to fasten the cage together.
What you do with them after you catches all the birds!? Just curious! Can you let them stay as pets birds !? Or not allowed!? I am in Massachusetts are not sure what is the state regulations here about this type of birds
I eliminate them. They aren't protected. You could turn over into a pet butt if you catch 100s you won't want that many pets. Local falconers will want them for their birds
Thanks!
Starlings showed up at our feeders for the first time last spring. (From downy to pileated, we have every NA species of woodpecker on our property.) Based on your recommendation, I bought a Tomahawk trap, but it didn't arrive until after the Starlings seemingly left. However, they're back now, so I set out the trap yesterday and already caught two!
That is fantastic news. Thanks for sharing.
@@BackyardBirdsUS Even though most of the starlings back out of the trap's gateway, so to speak, I still catch two-to-four daily. However, I wonder if it'll have a measurable impact on the _alarming_ number of starlings that have shown up this winter.
As mentioned, they first showed up (late) spring of last year, and this is the first winter we've had them in our area. However, as my 12--year-old put it, "there are BILLIONS of them."
I plan to call the DNR and, possibly, Cornell Ornithology Lab tomorrow to see what further action can be taken, lest our woodpeckers and water fowl suffer from the starlings' overwhelming presence!
Those large flocks are awful. They especially are bad when is cold out and they are hungry.
@@BackyardBirdsUS For large flocks, maybe a shotgun will take out five or 10 at a time. Of course, you wouldn’t but want to be shooting a shotgun in a subdivision. 😳
@@ForPapaandGrandma Invest in a good pellet air rifle and start picking them off by the dozens. Be careful though, where you’re shooting. You wouldn’t want to hit children out playing or somebody else’s house, if people live close by.
My husband built his own trap similar to this. We bait with dried meal worms which they absolutely love. It has been very effective.
Fantastic news. Thanks for sharing.
Having problems with starlings and a black bird that has like a gold ring around eyes. Would this trap them too sir. I love my wildlife but them ones are gluten and eat till its gone all in one day. Miss my doves, woodpecker red headed, blue jays cardinals and the little ones too. We have a marmet that comes to eat we call him chucky we have several squirrels that we also dearly love black, tan, grey ones too.. We even have a couple of chipmunks we call chip and dale. All of our squirrels are named too. Thank you!
Your love for animals is making me smile. I wonder what you bird with ring around the eye is. Could it be a myna? Where are you.
Do you know if there are any more affordable traps that work? I want to get rid of a few in my yard, but don’t want to drop over 100 dollars.
I do not. You can make your own to save money. But it's a big job.
What's the best dimensions of this trap?
I wish to make it myself.
Can you please advise?
I don't know exactly. You could buy one and try to copy it.
Starling is one of the best talkative bird.
Yes. If they are a pet they can't cause damage in the wild.
WOW!!!! Great video, Jeff!!!!
Thanks Rebecca. I hope it helps people.
Dude, yer the Jeff! I am so happy to see yer video. Also known as feathered rats.
Thank you. Glad you are helping.
The Ole Red Rider is a good choice too.
Yes anything to get them! Thanks for doing your part!
awesome, amazing, excellent video !!! Great job Jeff Hansen!!! Cheers my friend!
Glad it helped.
😊 and also make the entrance to your nest boxes smaller by way of metal rings so that they cannot even enter.
That works for smaller birds but for larger birds it excludes them and i want them to nest. But you are right by excluding them smaller birds can nest.
@BackyardBirdsUS oh ok, yes of course. I only want small here, that's why I said that. Sorry 😊
No problem. Thanks.
Excellent informative video Jeff. Your editing was great and the content was very interesting which made it very easy to watch the entire video. I would have a hard time euthanizing the birds, but I completely understand why you do what you do, and I appreciate your efforts!!! Well done!
Thanks Bart. I'm feeling better and better about my videos. It's sometimes hard to know when they are done. I really appreciate your comments.
@@BackyardBirdsUS As a subscriber to your channel, I think you are doing a great job Jeff. Keep up the great work!
I trap starlings for a living in the okanagan valley, most of my traps are located in dairy farms and cattle feed lots. These traps are large, one way, live traps, then birds are dispatched using co2 gas and a bucket.
Fantastic. Are they there big walk in traps?
Yes, M traps ....one way.
FYI: STARLINGS READILY FEAST ON DRY CAT FOOD, (PELLETS/NUGGETS), TOO!!!
I tried cat food with little luck. But I think they just weren't familiar with it.
I can't wait to try this!!! I'm tired of trying to scare away the MS-13 of the bird world!
You are going to love it. I'm publishing a new video tomorrow on making your own trap.
Thanks for the tips Backyard Birds! I just chased off over 100 starlings from my Log Woodpecker feeder. We have a nesting pair of Downy Woodpeckers, and a Carolina Wren that visits. The starlings would kill the other birds and eat them if they could catch them! . I'm going to have a Starling Cemetary in my back yard!!! It's going to be a feathery bloodbath out there these next 2 months! I HATE STARLINGS!
Good for you. Yes they are so aggressive. Best of luck.
Please don't kill them.
Will this trap work for house sparrows too?
Yes. They actually make a smaller trap for house sparrows. I have a video on trapping house sparrows. th-cam.com/video/AT6sQDvJMNo/w-d-xo.html
Do homemade traps work on starlings?
Yes they do if done right
@@BackyardBirdsUS I love your videos but anyways I used metal wire and made a minnow trap shaped trap and I used a door that they had to push in sadly the would go in and some how got out but I did catch a grey cat bird but do you have any type of entrance designs?
Damn, this is hard core.
Or, you could use feeders/feed that discourage/block starlings access to the food.
The problem is they compete with our nesting native birds. And they are super aggressive at feeders.
You could use their beaks as toothpicks.
Lol. You really could.
Can this trap be found in a smaller version? If so, where can I order one?
There is w link in the video description. Why do you want a smaller version other trap?
@@BackyardBirdsUS I want to trap and destroy red breasted blackbirds in my area of Ontario Canada. These birds cause serious noise pollution and drive all other birds away with their 'gangster' methods. Thanks.
Great share my friend and very informative..Thank you....👍
....💘🐥🐥💘..Happy Filming..💘🐥🐥💘....
Thank You Dee. Much appreciated.
The trap seems unavailable. Do you know of anyone else who sells them?
Sorry, I just used google. Should have done that in the first place.
You could make your own. It's easier than you think. Search my channel for how to make a starling trap
you are a hero. anyone who doesn't think that eliminating non-native species is humane should think of the environmental destruction they cause and the death and displacement of native species. taking them out helps nature heal. flickers are one of the most beautiful birds i have ever seen and any invasive bird that kills them should be shown no mercy.
It's so unfortunate the ignorance that's shown by religious fanatics of the animal rights kind when it comes to removing invasive species that we introduced therefore it's our responsibility to remove them.
Well said.
Thank you for explaining. You are they best.
IKR?.. I've been called a monster and verbally and physically attacked by "animal lovers" for killing nuisance non-native wildlife. I guess a lot of these "animal lovers" skipped biology class in school :) Great review of the trap, thanks so much! ♥
Keep doing what you do. Ignorant people don't try to learn they just react.
I am a falconer. I have invasive starlings that get in my house and taking over my Martin nests. I thought this might be a good natural food source for my hawk so I’m going to purchase one of these so maybe I can have two uses for the starlings.
I've heard of a lot of falconers using the strap to catch hundreds of starlings for their birds. Good luck.
Good for targets....lights out
Get em!
God I HATE Starlings. I have peanut suet cakes here in NE Ohio for hairy & feathery woodpeckers, northern flickers, red headed woodpeckers & even pileated woodpeckers. Tufted titmice, carolina wrens and black capped chickadees also enjoy the treat. They all do, until the damn starlings take over the housed suet block. I have a front bay window and watch from a recliner, and when I see starlings, I either get up and bang on the window to chase them away temporarily, or shoot a #64 rubber band at the window (has stopped scaring them lately) or rap on the window with anything I can grab. I've thought of baiting a mouse trap, but don't want to risk hurting any of the song birds. I looked at the Tomahawk trap at Amazon, and it seems to work well, albeit a tad expensive. I also looked at "disposal methods", approved and non-approved. Frankly my dislike of starlings is so great that I would likely just go out with a BB pistol and dispatch them quickly that way. To think that the billions of these menace birds originated from some idiot NY Playwright, who imported 24 of these birds (twice) and then released them into the NY Central park, from whence they multiplied and took over the country. Thanks for sharing this video.
I hear you. I have dealt with hoards of them. I think a flock of 200 or 300 was the largest that descended on my yard. The tomahawk trap works good but if you feel like making your own, you could. That is how I first got started on trapping them. I recently put up a tomahawk trapping how to video. It should help you catch them even with a homemade trap. I think shooting them is a good way to dispatch them!
@@BackyardBirdsUS Yeah, I saw your video using the Tomahawk trap .. which is why I looked it up on Amazon. A bit pricey at $75, but at least its already built. I looked at the ratings on it, which weren't too good, but I think its because people were either trying to catch sparrows (too small) or doves (too large) with it. I may wind up getting one. I looked at the local 'Tractor Supply' to see if there was something I could use, but nothing good there. Thanks
@@billsomrak I know why the reviews for the trap are bad. People think they can just put the trap out and birds will want to go into it. They have to be hungry and the food in it has to be what they want. It is very well built. and rather large. My homemade trap is about half the size. I wonder if you could find an animal cage to retrofit.
What about other birds getting trapped ?
You just open the trap and they fly out. I've caught robins many times and just let them fly away unharmed. But you have to monitor the trap.
We thin out starlings in our yard. They are among my favorite Fly Tying material, & we eat them, tasty dark meat can be simmered in cast iron w/ onions/ gravy
They aren't too gamey?
@@BackyardBirdsUS Not one bit, cook low & slow,
@@erickericksen7085 OMFG are you kidding me?
@@TheLastPharm I 10-4 that buddy- Flying Rats!
I agree. I haven't found a so called invasive bird yet that couldn't be used for food! ;-)
Do you eat them?
I don't but you could.
While it's very important to protect native song birds . Starlings get a bad rapp . They are highly intelligent, ,inquisitive and friendly birds .
Yes they are. Their intelligence makes them that much worse. They get a bad rap because they are extremely aggressive and intelligent. Native birds that are cavity nesters don't fare well. Reverb the wood duck can't compete.
Who are they friendly to? I've only seen aggression. I've even seen them kill each other to nest.
What if you trapped sparrows and they stop coming to the trap
About all you can do is be patient. Once nesting season commences I find trapping birds with bait is difficult. To much food elsewhere and birds are no longer flocking.
@@BackyardBirdsUS ok I'm doing it during nesting season but i have caught only 6
The method below is to catch 1 Starling at a time and requires
someone to be home and pay frequent attention to the trap
I found the 2 mouse traps below via the TH-cam video
I began using these traps to defend my platform bird feeders from an
overwhelming number of starlings descending on them.
I have adapted the mousetraps to catching starlings by placing sliced grapes into a small condiments container
and placing that container on the trigger mechanism. I use the thin plastic cups that restaurants
put butter & sour cream in for takeout customers. I then secure a round piece of velcro to the bottom of the cup.
(I had to use the velcro, because the starlings began lifting the entire plastic cup off the trigger plate with their beaks.)
Inside the cup, I put two, 1/4 sections of grapes into the cup turned backwards so the starlings can not
easily grip their beaks around them without applying some pressure against the cup.
I have caught 11 starlings this way in a couple of weeks.
I use the smaller traps inside a covered platform feeder.
I have 2 of the smaller traps below. I use the one that is rigged to trap starlings later in the day.
I use the other one early in the day, to feed grapes to the catbirds and mocking birds.
Once the starlings show up, I begin using the other trap that is already "rigged-up" to catch starlings.
I hope this helps someone catch starlings and drown them.
Starlings (which live in huge flocks that coordinate their killing) are wreaking havoc
on our native song birds (most of which live in pairs)
The one problem with this method is that catbirds and some other bird species are also
attracted to grapes, so I frequently have to walk out to the trap and release a catbird.
Once the catbirds fly south for the winter, I am hoping to catch a much higher percentage of Starlings
WRZ
Delaware County, PA 2020-09-08
th-cam.com/video/WEr9zJksoJQ/w-d-xo.html The video that led me to the mousetraps on Amazon
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0154F09I8 Product Size 12.5" x 6.5" x 5" Single Door Price: $21.50
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07331WZ6G Product Size: 10.5 x 5.5 x 4.5 inches. Single Door $20
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013FLER72 Product Size: 10.5" x 5.5" x 4.5" Single Door $17.98
Thanks for sharing. I'll have to try this trap. So you find grapes to be the best bait for starlings? What season do you trap them. I love that you are trying new methods to catch them.
@@BackyardBirdsUS
Starlings seem to eat anything. It's more a matter of trying to find a food that other birds wont eat.
It's annoying to have the trap "set-off" by native birds that I am just going to release.
I discovered grapes by accident because I feed them to the catbirds, to try and deter them
from pecking our garden tomatoes. But the Starlings began t o prevent the catbirds from getting any grapes.
At that point I decided to start trapping Starlings. I've only been doing this a couple of months.
Once the catbirds have flown south for the winter, I am hoping to see if I can catch more Starlings.
I have also used dry cat food for Starlings. I may try that in the fall since it is cheaper.
Starlings seem to be very observant and you can't keep catching them by baiting the trap
in the same way. They seem to notice small differences in how the trap is set.
I like that trap because you can put in out with either the trap being set or
putting the bait out without it being set to go off. You'll figure it out
easily, if you get one.
Thanks for the detailed messages. I'm going to have to get one of these traps. They could be used for rodents too. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.
@@BackyardBirdsUS
Yeah for the money they are a good buy. The mesh is tight enough to catch & contain a live mouse too.
(I like to use live traps unless i am certain of exactly what I will catch in them)
They are so small that I thought the Starlings would be too cautious to go in them but they do.
I put out those tiny Motts applesauce containers that come in a 6-pack. I put some grape jelly in
one and sliced grapes in a different one. Both of them are screwed to one thin piece of plexiglass,
so the birds can not over turn the contents. I actually set 1 loose container inside the other container
that is screwed down. So I use a total of 4 small applesauce containers.
I cut the plexiglass so that it covers most of the bottom of the cage. It's an easier surface to clean too.
I use these 4 cups to feed the birds and then when I notice the Starlings are becoming a problem again-,
I change how I configure the trap. I remove the applesauce cups with the plexiglass and place two 1/4 grape
sections on the trigger plate. But somehow they seem to notice the small change I have made
and understand the implications of that change.
Starlings seem to be much smarter and more observant than most people think they are and
they seem to be able to warn each other about danger & traps that are set for them.
I'm kind of surprised you can keep setting the same traps in the same way, and continue to catch them.
WRZ 2020-09-13
I guess they work for house sparrows as well.
I got the starling trap that you recommended, and it works great, but I keep getting grey squirrels in it. They eat all the suet, and then I have to go out and release them. Any tips for keeping them out?
Gosh that is super frustrating. I never had gray squirrels so never had to deal with them. Is there a way you could give them some other food so they wouldn't go to the trap. This is the first I've heard of squirrels getting in the trap. I always had fox squirrels and I think they're too big to enter. I wonder if anyone else out there has any ideas that could help you.
Here’s a tip: Kill all the squirrels. Grey squirrels are an invasive species, also. They raid native songbird nests and eat their eggs and hatchlings. So, they’re as bad as the damn starlings.
@@alan30189 That has been my plan so far. I have every few squirrel predators in my neighborhood and their population is out of control.
Luckily no gray squirrels here. Starlings are still worse because they hone in on woodpeckers to steal their nest cavity.
Squirrels do so well in the city... No predators.
When he was describing what time of the year to catching Starlings and said "here in Topeka" All I could think of was Loreta Lynn.
That is so funny!
I hear they enjoy trying to breathe underwater
That's will work.
They make pets that mimics Human speech tunes and music
Yes they do. But on the wild they are extremely destructive to our native birds.
I’ve got a starling trap.I call it Brocock Sniper xr .22.😂
Get them all!
Thank goodness you are the best!!! Learned a lot! Need to trap as many of these birds as possible to stop this non-native invasion!
Glad to help.
Hi, I would like to have one of the starlings for a pet, do you ever catch fledglings? I can also hand feed. :-)
I've never caught fledgling starlings. I wonder if you need to get one directly from the nest?
Going to buy a trap from the purple Martin group. I'm sick of them breeding at my apt complex and driving off my birds. I don't relish disposing of them but it's left me no choice. I want to have birds that can eat in peace.
Well said. I feel your pain. They are incredibly ruthless. Good luck.
Are the European starlings smart like their cousins the mynah birds and would they make good pets?
Yes very smart. I've heard they do make good pets but you probably need to get them young.
How do you “euthanize” the starlings once you’ve caught them?
Throw the cage into a pond and wait 5 minutes
@@nyarshroud8778 lmao
One of the most humane way is with CO2 and a Rubbermaid tote. Create a small hole for a CO2 gas valve to be inserted and sealed. Have a small evacuation hole on the top of the lid opposed to the valve for the escape of regular air during filling (likely a good valve on this hole too would be a good idea). Transfer invasive species animals into tote, seal the tote, and flood the container with CO2 gas. Since CO2 is heavier than O2, you can evacuate almost all of the breathable air out of the container easily. Leave the container sealed with CO2 for about thirty minutes or so. Poof, they have gone off to the afterlife with no suffering. Birds and rodents respirate really fast, so this tends to be the most painless method (according to sources).
You can search the internet as there are many ways. Just need it to be quick
Cervical dislocation is popular.
do you catch animals you don’t want in there?
Years ago I caught squirrels but then put a predator guard on the pole. So mostly starlings. An occasional native bird.
Used to eliminate these birds by the masses in the 70's, fraser valley b.c. Used an air rifle.
Good for you!
@@BackyardBirdsUS Thanks, i still have the habit,,,last bag was last summer.
i've been doing it for a couple of years now - jan - march are the big months.
What an idiot you are. Obviously the starlings will keep reproducing and replace the ones that were killed.
@@cazu2479 hey ,,its not about who is an idiot, the starling is a predator to native birds, and for example will raid robins nests and destroy the eggs / young. The efforts of myself and many others who understand the issue are and have been well worth while.
That must have been the birds I saw in a park garbage can. They were quite aggressive.
Very likely.
Just saw one in my backyard with my huge flock of Robins. I think it's time to buy an air rifle. That seems way more efficient at disposing of these murderous a-holes
If you can get them. Trespass are nice when you can't.
Set the trap up over a container of water. When you need.....drop the trap into the water
Are you saying they're attracted to water and that's a good way to catch them?
@@BackyardBirdsUS just jave the water tank nearby for ease of killing them by dropping the cage into the water
Yes. That makes sense.
my suet didnt work....no starlings
You have to be patient. I often only caught them when it was cold. Don't give up.
Jeff:
Love your videos with one caveat.
If you make any more youtube videos please jack up the volume !!
Your videos are extremely hard to hear on my old laptop and I suspect that
has a very negative effect on the number of views and comments.
I had to add them to a playlist to watch later by casting my laptop
to my TV which has much better speakers.
But I wonder how many people would be willing to do that.
WRZ
Delaware County, PA
metro-Philadelphia
I know my early videos were hard to hear. I think I've corrected the problem. Have you adjusted the volume on your TH-cam player?
I usually leave Starlings out for the hawks or Turkey Vultures to eat. I had a Starling trying to evict a family of Cardinals that nest yearly in one of my nesting boxes. I was able to take it out with an air rifle. I leave them out and the hawks and vultures usually go get them and every morning I see the Hawks sitting waiting for my morning delivery. One thing I've noticed is less hawk and dead birds around my yard now that I am leaving Starlings for them.
That's a great idea to feed the birds starlings. I've never heard of Cardinals in a nest box.
If you shoot starlings with an air rifle and then feed the carcass to hawks, there's a good chance the hawk will ingest the lead pellet and suffer from lead poisoning.
You make a good point. Lead shot is bad for predator birds.
@@davidstockton196 Of course you make sure the pellet has passed through (which in most cases, it does) ^^
airgun properly sighted is faster and very effective. if the starlings would let the other birds eat at my feeders i wouldn't care - but they won't - so, they have to go.
Good for you.
Ahhh now I get it. But can you tell me that they at least have a non painful death
Definitely painless. They are euthanized.
Now I understand what Hannibal meant when he said what he did to Clarice. And now I understand what they meant by calling that type a 'Starling.' Hahaha. Oh, but it's deeper than that. What are those so-called 'star-people'? Invasive aliens? (devil birds) And who would they like to silence?
What did he say? Starling was Clarice’s last name
I only know starlings are a true pest to our native birds.
YOU CAN TAKE ALL OF YOUR TRAPPED STARLINGS TO YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL REHABILITATION FACILITY, SO THAT THEY CAN USE THEM TO FEED ANY INJURED HAWKS, EAGLES, OWLS, OR OTHER PREDATORS.
That's such a good use for them. I hate to hear people throw them in the trash.
Starlings are filthy and harbor many parasites. My cat will kill them but won’t eat it.
They must not taste very good to cats. I've seen the same thing.
Yeah I question the safety of anything eating Starlings.
@@oldranger649 should be fine so long as they aren't eating mostly garbage, so as long as you aren't near a city or waste holding facility it should be fine. People even used to eat them more often in the past, I've had it once or twice and it isn't that bad. Not all pests are noxious.
I have a problem starling pair ruining my wood duck house, that already has 2 wood duck eggs in it! 😡
I want those starlings dead!
They are so awful. I had them build a nest on top of wood duck eggs. Surprisingly removed the starling and wood ducks returned. You are doing too need a vanert trap to get that stinking starling. I use a box with a 2 inch hole so i can't catch the wood duck.
A starling has already killed my baby bluebirds and almost killed the daddy. He pulled the babies out of the birdbox and dropped them 15-20 feet away where I found their little naked bodies. I had to stuff the birdbox with newspapers to keep the starling from nesting. I want those starlings dead, too!
Their health is no different than any other bird and they clean up and cook just as fast! ;-)
What's your preferred way to serve them?
@@BackyardBirdsUS basically the same with all, mud ducks, pigeon, mourning dove, etc. Because they're all so small, the breast is about the only thing worth keeping, unless of course you're making food for your coronavirus pets.
To keep it simple for human consumption, place a wing under each foot, get a firm grip on the legs, and pull straight up. That will remove the wings, head and 90% of the feathers. The rest are removed when you chop off the small legs and gouge out the abdomen. Rinse them, put a bunch of them and veggies on some skewers with whatever seasonings you want and roast them in the oven or on the BBQ or open fire.
Alternative, which is one of my favorites for small birds, once you've got them cleaned, slide the breast meat off of the bone with your thumbs, smack them a couple times under some plastic with a tenderizing hammer or small pan to thin and spread them out. Soak them overnight in lemon juice or a simple salt brine. Pickle juice is absolutely amazing, if you use dill make sure to dilute it at least half and half, my favorite is bread-and-butter pickle juice though.
Take your thin sheets of marinated meat, wrap them around a slice from a tart apple, such as a Granny Smith, pink lady or honeycrisp, give them a healthy dose of some black pepper and Himalayan sea salt, wrap that in about a half a slice of your favorite bacon, I like using thick-cut peppered bacon, fill up some skewers with these flavor bombs, roast, BBQ or over an open fire, slow cook them until the bacon is crisp, forcing the fat drippings from the bacon, and the tarte sweetness of the Apple into the breast meat.
Bet you can't eat just one! 🤗🤣😂😂🤣🤗🤤🤤🤤
I just shoot them with a .22 pellet riffle. Haven't seen them since
Glad you don't have hundreds. The learn to come when you aren't shooting.
Tommy Hawk trap...
Yes
Tomahawk enroute 😊
Glad you found it, you may want to try building your own trap per my video. Never hurts to have multiple traps.
If you are going to use your suet dough recipe, then you better plan on getting one of these, as you will have every starling in the neighborhood at your feeder. And plan on being somewhat heartless as you got to kill them.
You said it
What do I do if I don’t want to kill them?
Bring them to someone who will; they are invasive species in the U.S. and should be managed appropriately.
I agree with ManCave. Find someone else to do it.One of the best suggestions is to take them to a wildlife rehabber as they are in need of food for their animals. Especially their birds of prey. Starlings are perfect. That way its a win win win situation. The starlings become food, the birds of prey are fed, and the native birds are protected from the starlings.
Dylan, if you dont want to kill them, you can clip their wings and release them. THis website shows you the proper way to clip :
www.backyardchickens.com/threads/clipping-coturnix-wings.871393/
Don’t kill them... keep them as a pet. Mine talked to me came to me by name and they are very intelligent species actually. They may be from Europe but at no fault of their own. Aren’t most birds aggressive? They just happen to be bigger and just like all walks of species including human they are the dominant species. My starling said “whatcha doing” “pretty bird” mimicked sounds around our home. Mozart even had a starling used to deliver messages. They are actually wonderful pets 🥰
👍😎🎥
Glad you liked it
So it's like a lobster pot.
No. Not at all
@@BackyardBirdsUS why not?
I love starlings, but it's sad they are such a native and agricultural threat.
Drink every time he says 'trap.'
A new drinking game. Lol.
We can all join together to reduce these invasive starlings! Then our native cavity nesters can successfully raise their young!
Yes and they are ruthlessly aggressive. That is one reason they are so successful. And because they nest in human modified landscapes which are everywhere.
You’re not really reducing the numbers because they multiple in numbers. They are awesome pets better than a parrot
They talk they come when called and mimic sounds around your house they can say actual words and Mozart had one as a pet
@@Teaspoon30 I know people don’t realize how adaptable and smart starlings are
the harris hawk are still teens?? y could hear the make that baby call whn they want food fr there mom!!! also adults are smarter then those two..
No Harris Hawks. No teens. Not sure where you heard that.
suet.......hmmmm
They love the stuff
Small kibble cat food is great bait for starlings.
Not so attractive to protected species.
Is meow mix a kibble.
@@BackyardBirdsUS I'm not sure what Meow mix is, but if it's small dried bits, it's kibble.
Wow I just noticed the price for this trap has gone from $75 to $95 in just one year !
And it doesn't look like they made any improvements to it. I wonder why they
don't add a couple of guillotine type doors to the outside that would slide directly down,
so the trap can be closed while you walk the starlings to their swimming lessons ?
It seems like that would be easy enough for them to do, especially if the process
could be automated. The other problem with this trap is that it is 36" x 12" x 16"
which is also the exact same size as the most popular tropical fish tanks.
I have 5 retired tropical fish tanks that size myself.
They should have done more research and sized this trap a little smaller than the
most popular fish tank. There is no compelling reason to make this trap the
exact dimensions that they made it.
WRZ 2022-02-06
Everything is going up in price. I think i paid 60 for mine. There should be a way to close off the entrances. Guess we need to make our own traps.
Why not drop the entire trap in a 50 garbage can, full of water? No need to hand catch them and transfer them to another cage and risk some of them escaping.
Some people do that. The problem in winter is the water would be frozen.
Cruel as bastard they are living beings you should be put in water
alan30189 because they are living beans, its inhumane to drown them. Humanely put them down
Drowning isn't considered by some to be humane.
Backyard Birds I dont think its humane personally
Make them ur pet or send them to other people. Believe me, many people want starlings for their talking ability, along with their calls, and it was the reason why they are invasive here. Just sell them, first ull get gud profit, then, the starlings won’t be killed or harmed. Just make sure that the post owners don’t release them.
Mature birds wouldn't make good pets and there are millions.
@@BackyardBirdsUS why would they not make good pets? I’ve seen many as pets and their owners love them.
Maybe they would. But my guess is adult birds wouldn't like to be caged.
people with pet starlings have had them since they were babies and raised them indoors. can’t make an adult bird whose lived it’s entire life in the wild a pet
I feel sorry for the starlings. They're such cool birds. But our whole planet is so unbalanced.
They are amazing but they destroy so many native birds.
@@BackyardBirdsUS Humans destroy the native birds. We trash their forests, we blast fireworks indiscriminately, recklessly killing and displacing songbirds from their roosts, we let cats roam and kill millions of native birds each year, we erect wind turbines which maim and kill millions more.
Some of what you say is true but we also help native birds by restoring habitat and controlling invasive plant and animal species. I just wish more people were aware of the damage we can undo. Thanks for commenting!
humans are the reason