We've managed to keep the starlings off our feeder by using no peanut butter
or seed and by placing a large, clear plastic, flower pot saucer on top. We
poked a hole in the center of the saucer and strung the wire for the feeder
through it. The saucer comes down over the feeder like a cloche hat. It
bobs back and forth in the wind, but doesn't stop the smaller birds
including the Downy. By the way, the reason that we stopped using peanut
butter in the suet mix was that a local squirrel went absolutely butt-wacky
and tried everything to get at the suet feeder, including chewing off the
cedar shingles on the corner of the house, next to the feeder. He did a
fair amount of damage before we figured out what his problem was.

Caroline Feiss
Seattle