nesting starlings driving me mad

my user name

I have a few starlings nesting under the roof tiles above my kids' room. They make a fierce racket from first light to last thing at night - and then there are the birds!!! No seriously these starlings are driving me crazy. Kids cannot sleep.

Last year after they left I stuffed mesh under all the roof tiles. This allowed the air to circulate while blocking their return - or so I thought. I dont know what they did to get back to nest but they are back.

Any ideas of how to evict them? They are not protected species and can be evicted as needs be.

Alun

I was under the impression that as of a recent amendment in 2000 to the Wildlife Act of 1976 that it was unlawful to interfere with any nesting birds if there are still eggs or chicks present. Prior to this amendment it was for protected species only.

my user name

Alun wrote: »

I was under the impression that as of a recent amendment in 2000 to the Wildlife Act of 1976 that it was unlawful to interfere with any nesting birds if there are still eggs or chicks present. Prior to this amendment it was for protected species only.

how about i encourage them to leave!

Alun

my user name wrote: »

how about i encourage them to leave!

Same thing. Just wait until the chicks have hatched, shouldn't be too long now.

my user name

Alun wrote: »

Same thing. Just wait until the chicks have hatched, shouldn't be too long now.

chicks are well-hatched

Alun

my user name wrote: »

chicks are well-hatched

Sorry, I should have said have they fledged, i.e. left the nest, yet? If not, they're still dependent on their parents for food. Should be easy to spot the parents flying in and out regularly with mouthfuls of worms, insects etc. if they're still in the nest.

dodzy

Expanding foam.........following their departure.

JonathanAnon

I have the same.. Nest of birds in the roof, and the new hatchlings are chirping the whole time.. I meant to get the roof sorted after last year but didnt have the money... But I'd rather suffer the noise than kill them or force them out... I'd say leave them alone, they'll be fledged soon enough anyway...

Rats, I would burn alive... But I couldnt harm the little birds..

my user name

JonathanAnon wrote: »

I have the same.. Nest of birds in the roof, and the new hatchlings are chirping the whole time.. I meant to get the roof sorted after last year but didnt have the money... But I'd rather suffer the noise than kill them or force them out... I'd say leave them alone, they'll be fledged soon enough anyway...

Rats, I would burn alive... But I couldnt harm the little birds..

these birds are just rats with wings. If it comes down to me/family getting a proper night's sleep and the starlings.... well it is going to be the birds that need to suffer?

Any ideas on how to get rid of them

Qs

The problem is they will come back next year and the year after if you do nothing. We have the same problem. I think we'll just wait for them all to go out some day and block the whole thing up. Expanding foam sounds like a good idea.

Calico101

I am having the exact same problem! My cat is going nuts as well. The sooner they fly away the better. I just don't have the heart to block up their nest though. It's their home after all!

Cerco

Qs wrote: »

The problem is they will come back next year and the year after if you do nothing. We have the same problem. I think we'll just wait for them all to go out some day and block the whole thing up. Expanding foam sounds like a good idea.

I would not use expanding foam for this. Your attic needs to be aerated and you will get problems if you block it up. Birds need a space to get in. Better to use a small gauge chicken wire tucked in under the tiles.
That's what I plan to do when they are fledged.

my user name

Calico101 wrote: »

I am having the exact same problem! My cat is going nuts as well. The sooner they fly away the better. I just don't have the heart to block up their nest though. It's their home after all!

squatters

paddy147

my user name wrote: »

I have a few starlings nesting under the roof tiles above my kids' room. They make a fierce racket from first light to last thing at night - and then there are the birds!!! No seriously these starlings are driving me crazy. Kids cannot sleep.

Last year after they left I stuffed mesh under all the roof tiles. This allowed the air to circulate while blocking their return - or so I thought. I dont know what they did to get back to nest but they are back.

Any ideas of how to evict them? They are not protected species and can be evicted as needs be.

As my girlfriend suggested to me,would you not install some bird houses/nest boxes around the garden....as an alternative place for them to nest in

Birds in your garden are benificial for the garden and also wildlife in an urban setting is a good thing...too may concrete jungles these days with fcuk all in the way of wildlife.:(


Do not kill them or evict them,as they are like you,as in they just want a nice cosy place to live in,for the time being.


And do not use expanding foam either,as this will damage your roof aswell and air will not circulate through the roof and its rafters.


You will also create "pooling" on the felt,as the rain will not have a free run down the roof.

Best Regards.:)

zenno

You think you have it bad. From 5:30am every morning all i hear right beside my bedroom window is ku ku ku ku ku ku ku ku ku ku kuu for hours, driving me mad.

Tabnabs

I have the same issue with Sparrows although thankfully not as noisy. If sealing it isn't an option, I was looking at one of these
http://www.woodiesdiy.com/Product/Hedgehog-Gutter-Brush-Black/10823/6.0.6

Just unfurl it and let it lie in the gutter and it should block access to their hole.

paddy147

Tabnabs wrote: »

I have the same issue with Sparrows although thankfully not as noisy. If sealing it isn't an option, I was looking at one of these
http://www.woodiesdiy.com/Product/Hedgehog-Gutter-Brush-Black/10823/6.0.6

Just unfurl it and let it lie in the gutter and it should block access to their hole.

Overpriced...17-18 euro in most builders providers.

RealExpert

my user name wrote: »

how about i encourage them to leave!

Exactly.Even if they are just eggs in a nest or chicks strongly encourage them to leave otherwise they will be back nesting again next year and so on.
Remember you have to be cruel to be kind.
These are really dirty f_ckers I had an antenna over the house a number of years ago and they used to perch on it and s_hit down on the clothes line below.Wife drove me around the bend over it.

my user name

zenno wrote: »

You think you have it bad. From 5:30am every morning all i hear right beside my bedroom window is ku ku ku ku ku ku ku ku ku ku kuu for hours, driving me mad.

as far as i know - and if am wrong you can guarantee someone will point it out - it is open season on pigeons

my user name

RealExpert wrote: »

Exactly.Even if they are just eggs in a nest or chicks strongly encourage them to leave otherwise they will be back nesting again next year and so on.
Remember you have to be cruel to be kind.
These are really dirty f_ckers I had an antenna over the house a number of years ago and they used to perch on it and s_hit down on the clothes line below.Wife drove me around the bend over it.

WD40 - stops squeaks!!!!
http://www.team.ie/images/WD-40-Can-200ml.jpg

paddy147

my user name wrote: »

WD40 - stops squeaks!!!!
http://www.team.ie/images/WD-40-Can-200ml.jpg

You should spray it on yourself so...:pac:

my user name

paddy147 wrote: »

You should spray it on yourself so...:pac:

ouch. that hurts

JonathanAnon

I dont think there is any way of moving them on without killing them.. why dont you email Derek Mooney about it... They talk about all the wildlife stuff on a Friday afternoon.. One of the know-it-alls on their Friday panel will surely be able to suggest something..

michael999999

What if your neighbours cat got into your attic?

RealExpert

my user name wrote: »

WD40 - stops squeaks!!!!
http://www.team.ie/images/WD-40-Can-200ml.jpg

It was the s_hit on the clothes line that was the problem not squeaks!!!!

3dsteel

I saw this on facebook today and thought of this thread, sorry it doesn't help but might make you laugh?

paddy147

3dsteel wrote: »

I saw this on facebook today and thought of this thread, sorry it doesn't help but might make you laugh?

Sweet.:D

v10

my user name wrote: »

I have a few starlings nesting under the roof tiles above my kids' room. They make a fierce racket from first light to last thing at night - and then there are the birds!!! No seriously these starlings are driving me crazy. Kids cannot sleep.

Last year after they left I stuffed mesh under all the roof tiles. This allowed the air to circulate while blocking their return - or so I thought. I dont know what they did to get back to nest but they are back.

Any ideas of how to evict them? They are not protected species and can be evicted as needs be.

I have the same issue with starlings so I can sympathise. The $hite all over the driveway and car is bad enough but the racket they make would drive anyone mad. I have tried a few things including expandable foam in problem areas but they just ripped it to shreds and made a bigger mess. I have paid to have the nests (professionally) removed but none of it made any difference, they just keep coming back. Now I am considering investing in one of these devices which are more commonly used for farming etc but after speaking to them, I have been assured it will solve my problem.

Time will tell I guess.

Let me know if you find another solution.