However, dealing with these small animals is not simple. You must have been searching for answers to the question how to get rid of starlings / blackbirds / magpies many times, you are extremely eager to be able to escape the troubles that these birds bring. Don’t worry, you are not the only one who has to live with these troublesome animals, there are millions of households also struggling to find the answer to this difficult problem.
Why must control starlings / blackbirds / magpies?
Many people underestimate the threat these small birds can bring, so it is not until they first witness their intrusion that they cannot be calm. Let us list you with some of the threats of starlings, blackbirds and magpies to give you a more objective view of these birds.
#1 Starling
Starlings often consume large amounts of protein supplements, especially they love the feed on farms. That is why they act as an intermediate source of disease, which can be transmitted from farm to farm. They often enter the chicken coop to fight for food, so when exposed to the chickens in the barn, they are very susceptible to Histoplasma capsulatum and carry it everywhere. This is a dangerous fungus that seriously affects the health status of poultry.
Besides starlings also destroy crops, consume large amounts of fruit and plants. Their favorite fruits are berries like grapes, blueberries, and strawberries; apples and sweet fruits. They also destroy seeds sprouting in fields, on farms like rice, wheat, and almonds. Especially during the harvest season, you can easily witness dozens of starlings descending on the grain you’re harvesting.
Starling dung is not only polluting and difficult to clean, it is also an invisible weapon. Starlings are known for their watery faeces so many people have been slipped by their droppings. Moreover, this humid environment is the breeding ground for many viruses and bacteria.
#2 Blackbird
Blackbirds are one of the most common and damaging birds. They have a habit of following large herds so can cause great damage to a given area. They can surprisingly damage crops to provide enough food for the whole herd. Farms of maize, rice or fruit trees consider blackbirds to be the most troublesome species when it comes to harvest. “How to keep blackbirds away” was the most common question during that period.
Besides, they also compete and occupy the nesting position of other harmless indigenous birds. The large number of blackbirds living in groups made them an aggressive army that any other bird would fear. Once occupied, they will stick with that place for a long time until they have to emigrate.
#3 Magpies
Like many other birds, magpies are omnivores, meaning they can eat anything they find. However, magpies tend to be more extreme than birds that only eat worms.
There are many documented cases of magpies causing serious injuries to pets, especially dogs. Dogs often have ticks and lice and are very attractive to a omnivorous genus like magpies. However, magpies not only ate mites and lice on dog hair but also continued to attack dog wounds. From a small wound, magpies have turned it into an increasingly large wound and at risk of infection, if not treated promptly, the pet will probably die. Many birds will eat dog meat, many will attack that wound for nothing. They even attack cattle and poultry on the farm to find food or turn them into their food. That’s why magpies are an extremely dangerous and extreme bird.
Although the number of magpies is not as much as other common birds, recently, the rate of reproduction and growth of this species has increased rapidly. This is a dangerous signal for many parts of the world, especially in the countryside. In areas where there are many insects, they will eat less agricultural products and endanger the animals. In areas where there are few pests, their concerns will turn to plants, causing serious damage to crops and ecosystems.
What do you need to know about starlings / blackbirds / magpies?
These three birds are not easy targets to deal with, so you need to know some information about them as well as the dangers they can bring.
#1 Steal territory from other birds
Starlings, blackbirds and magpies are all strong competitors with other birds to achieve their goals. Once they find the ideal location to nest, they will try to rob the nest of the other. The birds most often robbed by their nests are blue or woodpeckers. Males are often very aggressive, they can directly attack the young in the nest, slaughter the egg and kill the mother to win the nest. In short, it can use any means, including extreme ways to gain territory for itself.
Besides, they even build nests right above the nests of other birds if they have not found the right opportunity. They will wait for an opportunity, making a surprise attack so they don’t have to share their living space with other species. Once captured, it will protect its nest from predatory birds such as owls, eagles, and any other species.
Bird making nest wherever they feel suitable, can protect them from any impact so that they will defy all to gain a suitable nesting position. So how to prevent birds from nesting, you need to combine several measures together, a separate measure is never enough to prevent these aggressive birds.
#2 Impact on ecosystems
Starlings, blackbirds or magpies can all have significant effects on ecosystems, in particular the area in which they live and forage. They affect the ecosystem in a negative way in many different ways. However, one of the highlights is the imbalance of the ecosystem.
These birds compete for the whereabouts of other birds, driving them away, and even aggressively killing others. Not only competing with the habitat of harmless native birds, it also spread dangerous diseases to many other species, threatening health and lives.
Not only that, they also cause heavy losses for agricultural activities. Starlings, blackbirds or magpies seriously destroy crops, not only stealing food but they also make crops incomplete with ugly incisions. They also attack cattle and poultry to achieve their goals.
#3 Carriers of dangerous diseases
Not only are these species troublesome, destroying habitat and ecosystems, these three birds also bring different diseases to both livestock and humans.
Birds are exposed to many different animals and can infect many other species through their journey. That is why it is an infectious species, carrying dangerous diseases. This includes bacterial diseases, fungal diseases, viral diseases and protozoa. Especially they bring a dangerous fungus, can spread in the air and easily spread through breathing, which is Histoplasmosis. In severe cases, people or pets may become blind or die. Moreover, the fungus originates from bird droppings, so you need to be alert when cleaning or coming into contact with it.
#4 Overwhelmingly large number
In addition to the above problems, the overwhelming number of these birds is also an alarming factor. They often go together in groups, so their attack increases significantly compared to the influence of an individual. This is the problem.
During the migration, usually in the fall or winter, a flock of birds can be in the hundreds of thousands. These birds may cause severe damage to aircraft. There are many cases of large numbers of birds damaging aircraft, even posing dangerous threats to human lives.
Herd activities also cause serious damage to crops and livestock. In places like this, you can use an ultrasonic bird repeller to keep the birds away. Although not completely thorough, but also greatly reduce the amount of damage that birds bring.
They work in groups to avoid the onslaught of large predators such as eagles and hawks. There are also many other birds hiding in this flock to avoid the danger of getting lost.
Do they eat other birds?
As mentioned above, they are both fierce and dangerous birds. They are ready to attack other birds for territory and food, not even being afraid to kill eggs, young birds and other birds. As long as they can get their nests, they do not hesitate to take extreme actions, threatening the life and lives of other species.
So do they eat other birds after killing? Is not. Starlings, blackbirds or magpies do not eat birds but they are still dangerous species. Their main food is fruits, insects and cereals, completely uninterested in the flesh of other birds.
How to get rid of starlings/ blackbirds/ magpies?
After having a rough grasp of these three birds, it’s time to embark on a fight with them. In order to answer the question of how to keep birds from making nests in unwanted places and how to control them, keep in mind the methods below.
Almost all wildlife is protected by regulations, but some birds are not on this protection list. Owners may take actions to remove them without permission from the competent authority. If wildlife causes damage to the property or habitat of the owner, the owner has the right to perform those acts. Starlings, blackbirds or magpies are not included in this protection list, so the methods to control these species are virtually unrestricted. So you can choose any of the methods below to get rid of them.
#1 Exclusion method
You can prevent the invasion of starlings, blackbirds or magpies by blocking openings in buildings or other open structures. Birds often nest in these places because they are discreet and can cover the sun and rain. This is also the place where pets are hard to reach to harm the young or the eggs in the nest.
Use heavy or tall plastic pieces to block holes 1 inch or more in size. You can also apply to loopholes on the farm.
How to get rid of birds in attic? The simple answer is to place slippery materials at an angle so the bird cannot land or nest on it. Such materials could be mica, wood or metal. The perfect tilt is 45 degrees. You can also use hedgehog spikes or metal spikes to remove them.
For areas of agriculture, farms, protection of crops and crops is a top priority. Use small meshes to cover areas and plants you want to protect. Although simple, it is enough to limit the destruction of birds to agricultural products.
#2 Methods of harassment and intimidation
This is one of the physical methods that does not harm birds but only scares them and then leaves. This method is used by many people, especially large-scale farms. If combined with any other method, the effect of eliminating birds is almost maximum.
You can use a sonic bird repellent or dynamite to frighten the bird. They are often frightened by loud, sudden noises so these are the most common devices. You can also use owl to scare away birds, of course a fake owl can easily be purchased at any local pet store.
However, for this method you need to be persistent to achieve the desired results. It will take some time to set up until the first success is achieved.
#3 Bird dispersion method
In general, birds often disperse into three different types: summer and autumn on tree in the suburbs, winter in conifers and finally in urban areas.
It is difficult to use strong control methods in urban areas, however you should not worry because there are techniques to disperse birds.
Bird Control: Getting rid of grackles and starlings
#1. Summer and autumn live on trees:
In the mid-summer months, you can easily see the image of thousands of birds occupying the shade trees on the outskirts. This is an ideal place for them to avoid harsh sunlight and conveniently find food.
Usually in late July and early August, birds will mostly rest and feed before moving when the weather begins to get colder in October. When trees begin to shed their leaves, they will begin to migrate to find places. New accommodation is more suitable.
For large rows of canopy trees in urban areas, the dispersion is more difficult than suburban areas, if you want to be effective, you need to plan carefully before proceeding. If last summer, those noisy and aggressive birds were coming, you should prepare a plan from the beginning of the year to easily deal with them.
All you need to do when you encounter this scenario is:
Seek opinions from other households in bird affected areas to reach a consensus on this issue.
Contact local or regional authorities for reference and assistance.
Prepare the necessary equipment (with the help of the organization or self-equip if not granted).
Plan to disperse the bird and proceed as soon as possible, the dispersion sessions should be conducted continuously and regularly to be effective.
When the season comes, birds may survey the area before deciding to settle on nearby trees, but you should not be discouraged, but keep observing to take action in a timely manner.
After planning, it’s time for you to take action to disperse the birds. When the first birds enter the area, you should:
Perform a frightening method with sound or a reflective object to mess with the first ones. Keep going, however, not too often to avoid others being accustomed to this loud sound. Change device location after a period of time to refresh.
Using equipment makes the tree unable to stand still so that the birds can hardly access those trees.
If you have a hose, flush the area where birds flock to the tree, the birds don’t like it so they will quickly leave if attacked by water.
Go ahead if there are other birds present, but you should finish before it gets dark because the remaining birds won’t leave once night falls. So don’t waste your energy and save for the next day.
Remember that you should make a plan in a week, an evening can not prove your success because the number of migratory birds is very large. Maybe one session will be successful for the offspring but there are plenty of other birds moving behind so you shouldn’t be caught off guard.
After dispersing, these birds may move to other nearby areas or may merge with other birds. However, they can not continue flying another long distance after a tiring journey.
Therefore, areas with large trees and large canopy should thin or trim branches to minimize the ability of birds to reside. Removing unnecessary shrubs and vegetation is also an effective preventive measure.
#2. Winter on coniferous trees:
In the winter, blackbirds will move south to avoid cold, while starlings choose to live in conifer areas. They will live together in groups to spread heat, helping them survive the cold winter. Starting from the deciduous tree in late autumn, these flocks can coexist through the winter for three months.
Although not as active as summer, they still cause certain damage, especially for rural areas. So you can apply the same measures and plans as when dealing with summer birds. However, because you need to apply to a large area, you need more personnel.
#3. Winter in urban areas
While some choose to survive the winter in conifers, some choose to nest in city buildings. They can nest in attics, garages, holes and other open structures. Not only do they make noise, they can also damage an entire building.
How to get bird out of garage or rooftop ?
This is a common question of many people. Such warm places are always a great choice for a bird’s nest. In this case, you need to close and block all the windows or holes so the bird cannot invade. Plastic blinds are also a smart choice to prevent this troublesome animal.
For other open areas, you should use a sticky compound to catch birds that want to land in your area. This compound will not allow birds to move once they stick. Hedgehog is also another option you can refer to.
#1 Bird Trap:
Currently on the market there are many types of bird traps that are diverse in design and price that you can easily find online. This is also a method to help you catch a certain number of birds. Humanitarian traps have always been the number one priority for customers’ choice because other harmless indigenous birds can be trapped. Therefore, you should use this type of trap to avoid harming other harmless birds that are not lucky enough to fall into the trap.
#2 Bird repellent and poison:
For these aggressive birds, you can use more aggressive methods to eliminate them, moreover they are not on the protection list so you can proceed without breaking the rules. However, for these harmful and dangerous chemicals, we recommend that you do not use them on your own, but should seek the help of technical agencies and organizations to eliminate them.
Although they are pests, killing them with toxic substances is also something to be aware of. So you should consult before making a decision.
#3 Shoot:
Killing birds with a gun is one of the tough methods to eliminate this troublesome animal. This method complements the methods of intimidation, is effective for a certain number of birds and is often used in suburban and rural areas. However, to be able to perform this method, you need a license from the competent authority and must ensure the safety of the surrounding creatures and households.
Conclusion
Removing these three angry birds is a problem that requires you to have certain knowledge and perseverance. Once you start a fight with them, you have to spend a lot of time and effort to confront them. Hope the above information is helpful for your fight.