Starlings
Starlings
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Sturnus vulgaris
HOW TO IDENTIFY A STARLING
The Common Starling has a wide variation in plumage. Both sexes are similar, although the female is less glossy than the male. In autumn, when the plumage is new, birds are glossed black, with a purple and green shine, and the tips of the body feathers have large white spots. At this time the bill is dark and the legs are brown. With wear, the white spots are lost, while the bill and legs turn yellow. During the breeding season adults become glossy-black without any spots. Young birds are dull grey-brown.
WHERE ARE STARLINGS COMMONLY FOUND?
The Common Starling is a prominent bird in open cultivated areas, and is a well-known pest of orchards. However, Starlings can be found around human habitation nesting in roof voids, ledges/awnings, under sarking or in holes in walls.
WHY ARE STARLINGS CONSIDERED A PEST?
Starlings a considered a pest because of the damage to buildings and guttering due to acidic nature of droppings. Noise pollution is also a problem when Starlings are present in large numbers.
Starlings are also a carriers of bird mites.
WHAT IS THE BIOLOGY AND LIFECYCLE OF A STARLING?
Breeding season from Sept to January with two clutches of 5-7 eggs each.
The life span of a Starling is 2-3 years.
Management Tips for Starlings
To effectively protect a building from a bird problem, it often requires a combination of products. Take into account the following in designing your bird protection system:
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Bird species/pressure
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Building structure
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Location of problem
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Installation issues
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Durability requirements
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Aesthetic requirements
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Safety/environmental concerns
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Cost
A wide range of bird protection systems are available to effectively protect a building from a bird problem with various different methods:
Area exclusions - When installed correctly, bird netting provides the most complete, humane and durable system for bird exclusion.
Ledge exclusion - Large Birds: A system of spikes, wires and spiders can be utilised to discourage birds from landing on ledges. All Birds: a system of slopes and shock systems can be utilised.
Scare devices - A variety of scarer and repeller devices are available
Traps - For humane and safe removal of birds, particularly in sensitive areas
Avicide - For pigeons, sparrows and starlings. Only for application by authorised persons.
Solar panel protection - Solar panel exclusion kits are designed to prevent nesting under solar arrays - avoids expensive damage and reduction in efficiency due to bird droppings on panels.
Disease protection - PX Ornikill can be used as a clean up product and disease protection treatment, kill a range of disease organisms associated with pest birds such as ornithosis and psittacosis.
PRODUCT SOLUTIONS
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VEXO K6 Stainless Steel 6 Bird Spikes (Ultra Dense)High density spikes
VEXO K6 Ultra Dense bird spikes are extra dense, light weight spikes that are designed to deter smaller birds like starlings, mynas, and sparrows. Manufactured using premium grade 304 stainless steel, this durable and versatile solution will serve as a long-lasting and reliable pest bird deterrent.
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Avipoint P32 Extra Wide Bird SpikesAvipoint P32 Extra Wide Bird Spikes are made from high quality stainless steel spikes insert-moulded into UV stabilised polycarbonate base. Available by the metre.
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Avipoint P20 Wide Bird SpikesAvipoint P20 Wide Bird Spikes are made from high quality stainless steel spikes insert-moulded into UV stabilised polycarbonate base. Available by the metre.
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Avipoint P14 Narrow Bird SpikesAvipoint P14 Narrow Bird Spikes are made from high quality stainless steel spikes insert-moulded into UV stabilised polycarbonate base. Available by the metre.
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VEXO GX21 Stainless Steel 2 Bird Spikes (Gutter) - 10m BundlePack of 10 x 1m Spikes
VEXO GX21 gutter spikes are stainless steel bid spikes uniquely designed and shaped to prevent birds from perching and nesting in gutters.
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VEXO SS21 Stainless Steel 2 Bird Spike (Narrow) - 10m BundlePack of 10 x 1m Spikes
VEXO SS21 Narrow Bird Spikes are lightweight fully stainless steel spikes that provide discrete protection against pigeons, mynas, starling, galahs, magpies and cockatoos.
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VEXO SS41 Stainless Steel 4 Bird Spike (Wide) - 10m BundlePack of 10 x 1m Spikes
VEXO SS41 Wide Bird Spikes are stainless steel spikes that provide discrete protection against pigeons, mynas, starling, galahs, magpies and cockatoos. SS41 spikes are the most popular bird spike as a durable versatile solution against pest birds.
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VEXO SS61 Stainless Steel 6 Bird Spikes (Ultra Wide) - 10m BundlePack of 10 x 1m Spikes
VEXO SS61 Ultra Wide Bird Spikes are stainless steel spikes that provide discrete protection against pigeons, mynas, starling, galahs, magpies and cockatoos. SS61 spikes provide extra wide protection coverage against medium size birds.
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VEXO SW71 Stainless Steel 4 Bird Spikes (Solar / Eave) - 10m BundlePack of 10 x 1m Spikes
VEXO SW71 Eave and Solar Bird Spikes are stainless steel spikes that provide discrete protection against pigeons, mynas, starling, galahs, magpies, and cockatoos. SW71 spikes are highly versatile, used to protect eaves, solar panels, and window ledges.
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Vexo MZ30 Solarguard Pro Mesh KitReady to install
VEXO Solarguard Pro Mesh Kits are designed to protect solar panel installations, the roof and electrical wiring from damage caused by rodents, birds and possums by preventing access. Use this solar panel mesh to build an effective physical barrier around your solar panels to keep birds and rodents from nesting underneath.
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Premium Bird Net 19mmGlobe's 19mm Premium Bird Netting offers reliable and effective bird-proofing solutions for properties facing challenges from both smaller birds and larger species like pigeons and seagulls. Crafted from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), this premium bird netting is designed to endure harsh weather conditions, making it ideal for both urban and rural settings with any level of bird infestation.
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PCO Bird 3 Spike 15mProfessional, Stainless Steel, Bird Deterrent Spikes. There is 15m of bird spikes per box (30 x 50cm strips), with a 12.5cm top width span.
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Bird Free Optical Gel with Magnet - 15 PackReady to install
Bird Free Optical Gel keeps birds off all structures without harming them. It does so by altering their behaviour, not by acting as a physical barrier. Once applied, birds will completely desert a habitat, even one they have been using for years.
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Bird Free Optical Gel - 15 PackReady to install
Bird Free Optical Gel keeps birds off all structures without harming them. It does so by altering their behaviour, not by acting as a physical barrier. Once applied, birds will completely desert a habitat, even one they have been using for years.
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D-Ter Animal & Bird RepellentSafe & Effective
D-Ter Animal & Bird Repellent is a safe and effective repellent used to deter unwanted animals and birds. D-Ter is ideal for use as a repellent for dogs, cats, birds, possums, kangaroos, bandicoots and many other animals.
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Bird Wire Rope 2mm - Galvanised 200mThe galvanised wire rope is 2mm diameter is appropriate for use in installing and erecting bird netting.
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Bird Wire Rope 2mm - Stainless Steel 200mThe stainless steel wire rope is 2mm diameter is appropriate for use in installing and erecting bird netting.
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VEXO K6XL Extra Large Ultra Dense Bird Spikes - 5m BundlePack of 10 x 0.5m Spikes
Vexo K6XL Extra Large Ultra Dense Bird Spikes feature extra-long spikes providing 25% greater height and width coverage than the standard K6 model. This gives you the best of both worlds by maintaining the higher spike density required to exclude smaller pest birds while adding the extra height required to tackle taller pest species.
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VEXO K6 Stainless Steel 6 Bird Spikes (Ultra Dense) - 5m BundlePack of 10 x 0.5m spikes
VEXO K6 Ultra Dense bird spikes are extra dense, light weight spikes that are designed to deter smaller birds like starlings, mynas, and sparrows. Manufactured using premium grade 304 stainless steel, this durable and versatile solution will serve as a long-lasting and reliable pest bird deterrent.
