Hi Dennis:

I have used two types of suet feeders that have so far defeated the vile
Starlings.

1. A type that is sold by Portland Audubon that has an over-hanging lid on
the top, and a screen facing down. Wrens, Bushtits, and Downy Woodpeckers
have learned to use it.
2. A type that is enclosed in a wire cage that allows the smaller species to
enter, but excludes the Starlings and Scrub Jays

One can also resort to what a neighbor does - a pellet gun.

Jeff Gilligan
Portland,OR; Nachotta, WA; Green Valley, AZ


On 1/24/08 4:21 PM, "Dennis Paulson" <dennispaulson at comcast.net> wrote:

> I often defend starlings to people who despise them, saying it's our fault
> they are here, not theirs, and that's entirely true.
>
> But today they're straining my patience. I've had this nice suet feeder
> outside my window all winter, and it's bee a great source of joy, as bird
> after bird feeds from it, from flocks of Bushtits to a spectacular Pileated
> Woodpecker. Imagine a Townsend's Warbler on one side and a Bewick's Wren on
> the other.
>
> But today the starlings have come back into the neighborhood, and I've spent
> all morning chasing them off that feeder. They are shockingly persistent, just
> flying into the nearby trees when I yell, clap my hands, and/or wave things
> out the window, then returning within minutes or even seconds. They're too
> relaxed! As many as 10 gather, one on the suet, and it pecks so vigorously
> that enough suet falls to the ground to feed the hordes below. Flickers do the
> same thing, and it's great to see a wren or Varied Thrush picking up the
> pieces then. But the starlings can strip a suet feeder in no time, and I can't
> afford the time or money to replace it every few hours. Also, they keep the
> smaller birds off it, even giving the flickers pause when there are enough of
> them. I'd love to see a Pileated come in and scatter them.
>
> The flock finally flew away after about 15 minutes of my hassling them, but I
> know they'll be back.
>
> Now that they've returned for the spring (they are fortunately absent from
> this neighborhood in winter, I may have to take the suet down. We have another
> feeder in which the suet is impervious to starlings, but that's such a metal
> monstrosity that I don't really want it by my window. Not much I can do about
> it, as I can't spend every day running to the window 50 times, just venting.
>
> One interesting thing is that several times when the yard was full of
> starlings, it was also full of robins, and I get the distinct feeling that
> they may travel together, at least loosely.
>
> -----
> Dennis Paulson
> 1724 NE 98 St.
> Seattle, WA 98115
> 206-528-1382
> dennispaulson at comcast.net
>
>
>
>
>
>
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