Wildlife Removal Services: An Inside Look at the Starling

  Big things sometimes come in small packages. This is a statement that can be applied to even a few animals in the wildlife world. Starlings fit the bill perfectly. They are larger than life birds even though they are physically tiny. The impact they have is great on both the positive and negative spectrum. With the help of experts who provide humane wildlife removal services, you can ensure that you and those around you experience the positives of starlings’ presence and avoid the negatives.

The Life of a Starling

Starlings are among the top five popular invasive bird species of the world (also in this category are the House sparrow and Rock Pigeon). These birds are among the small winged animals in nature with a size comparable to that of a Robin. Their beaks are long and pointed and their wings are angled backward leading to their short stubby tails. According to Wildlife expert and Skedaddle Milwaukee Owner/Operator, Marcus Mueller, “In Milwaukee, my experience has been that starlings are one of our most common residential nuisance bird species." Starlings have a reputation for being intelligent problem solvers. They have been found to mimic the sounds around them (even human sounds!) in captivity. In fact, the famous composer Mozart is noted to have fashioned a portion of one of his works after the tune of his pet starling’s song. But they can also help keep insects out of our lives as they love to chow down on species such as flies and their larvae, moths, and caterpillars. [video width="600" height="400" mp4="https://www.skedaddlewildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Bird-nest.mp4"][/video]

Starling’s Footprints on Our World

Starlings came to North America as a part of the deliberate efforts of people (Eugene Schieffelin and his team )who wanted to introduce them into space as a part of an effort to bring the flora and fauna mentioned in the legendary works of William Shakespeare to North America.  This effort started in 1890 with the introduction of 80 European (Sturnus vulgaris) starlings. The birds have since taken root in the area thriving successfully. Like many other wildlife animals, starlings have learned to live in the adjusted environment created by human beings. As a result, they will not shy away from spaces occupied by human beings and instead will boldly establish their nests there. A long as the building presents an opportunity for a nest to be established, starlings will capitalize on it. They have been known to establish nests in unused vents and attics among other spaces. These nests cause fire hazards and detract from the appearance of the space. Marcus describes "Starlings are cavity-nesters, meaning they nest in holes in structures. They are also incredibly adaptive to living around humans, and the pairing of these two traits mean that they are very good at exploiting areas on homes that provide suitable nesting habitat." Starlings produce a sound that cannot be ignored. Their song comprises a speedy combination of squeaks, chirps, wheezes, and chatter along with other sounds. Understandably, these sounds may be disturbing for people who are forced to share spaces with the birds. Milwaukee wildlife removal experts receive calls for assistance with starlings more than any other bird species. The complaints include nests in wall vents and other crevices. This happens because it is in the nature of the bird to nest inside cozy crevices and holes. Marcus explains further "We have seen a whole host of starling nests in homes, ranging from small nests in unused vents to entire attics filled with nesting material."

How to Protect Your Home from Starlings

One of the first things to do to keep starlings at bay is to avoid feeding them. Since they eat a variety of things (including human food such as bread) this can prove to be quite challenging. Getting rid of the insects they prey on can also help. You should also inspect your building frequently to identify holes and cracks that starlings may want to use for nesting space and repair them early. If starlings have already moved into your space, it is best to hire expert humane wildlife removal services to get them to leave. Skedaddle offers an entire suite of inspection, removal and prevention services that will ensure that you enjoy starlings on your property without worrying about them causing any damage.