Birding Activity Explosion

[tmanson]

Hi all: Got out for a walk and a run today around Hope in between the squalls, and was amazed at the sheer volume of birds engaged in their spring rituals. Nothing unusual as far as species diversification, but I can't remember a year where there have been so many Pine Siskins about. They are everywhere, and their calls fill the air. Other species heard, and seen include American Robin, the two chickadees, Juncos, Red winged Blackbird, American Song Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, one of the kinglets, Red shafted Flicker, Wood Duck, Canada Goose, Glaucous winged Gull, Common Goldeneye, Red breasted Nuthatch, Varied Thrush, Bald Eagle, House Finch, Great Blue Heron, Common Raven, and European Starling.
Speaking of the latter, this is the first year, I have seen Starling exhibit nesting behaviour around my house. I know they are cavity nesters, and will even displace flickers in their attempts to build a nest. I noticed they were seriously checking out my neighbour's new house, and when I went over to check, I saw that underneath the eaves, their venitlation consists of a series of round holes evenly spaced along the length of their roof- talk about an invitation to nest.
I looked up the European Starling on the Cornell University Ornithology Lab website, and was intersested to see that it is not illegal to kill this species and destroy their nests; ( in North America ). Interestingly, they are a red listed species in parts of Europe.
I know I couldn't resort to this measure, but I definitely don't want them nesting in my house. So far, my strategy to prevent this from occurring for this species, and the Northern Flicker, has been to play owl tapes when I see them around the house.
If anyone has any other suggestions, I would be interested to know. Cheers, Thor

Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.

[Wetlander]

Hi Thor,
We also have more Pine Siskins than ever before. Usually only see them a couple of times a year... this year we have about a dozen visiting our Nyger seed feeder daily.
P.S.
The only thing that slows the Starlings down around our place are masses of super aggressive Red-winged Blackbirds!!!
Kev

[Gord]

Thor, a steel mesh over the holes will keep the starlings out, but will also keep the Flickers out as well.

Starlings are not protected here yes. I too could not harm one again (I used to be a terror on them as a boy BUT unlike other kids with pellet guns, would only go after starlings and protect my swallows from House Sparrows, who are also not protected).

You can make a box that traps the starlings in there so you can drive them far away and release them. When I got to the point I didnt want to shoot even these pest birds anymore I would use this method and making sure my boxes did not breed House Sparrows or starlings.

[tmanson]

Gord: Good advice on screening off potential nesting cavities. This will definitely work on Starlings. Flickers, on the other hand, can be a little more persistent. With a wooden house, they will actually excavate a nesting cavity on the siding as I found out a few years ago. The other day, when I saw wood splinters on the ground, I looked up to see that they had taken advantage of a slight separation of my soffit from the eaves to excavate a larger opening.
I have stopped putting out suet in the hopes that they will go elsewhere, but this is their territory, and they're going to hang around anyway. Thor

Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.

[Gord]

Thor, didnt realize the Flickers were on the eviction list as well, but makes sense!

Aside from offering a box, stuffed full of shavings so they can 'excavate' their box, Im not sure what can be done to keep them from making holes in your house.

I think a flicker will take to a box fairly well but if starlings are a problem they might kick the flickers out and prompt them to go back to making their own hole on your house's siding.