If you want to know how to get rid of starlings, you are not alone. These cacophonous birds are considered pests in many parts of the country. The common starling is not native to the United States. The European starling, which is its other name, was brought to New York in the year 1890 by a misguided group. The American Acclimation Society was an organization with a mission to integrate European wildlife into America for cultural … [Read more...]
Try These Amazing Tricks for Bird Nest Prevention
If you are dealing with pesky birds such as common starlings or swallows, consider bird nest prevention as a way to mitigate the problem. Both European (or common starlings) and swallows can cause problems for home owners, businesses, and farms for various reasons. Common starlings make a racket, eat up crops, and leave tons of waste behind. Swallows aren’t as annoyingly noisy as starlings, but they damage properties with their mud nests. A … [Read more...]
How to Get Rid of Crows
Crows. One or two at a time, or in a small family group or flock, they’re truly impressive creatures. Resourceful and excellent problem-solvers, crows flourish in virtually any environment. They work cooperatively to achieve goals and show strong family bonds, sharing food and looking out for one another. In fact, we may be only beginning to understand how cognitively and socially advanced these members of the corvid family are. But, these … [Read more...]
How to Get Rid of Starlings
If you don’t already know why we have European starlings here in the United States, it’s because in 1890 someone wanting to make European settlers feel at home released 60 European starlings (along with birds of all the other species mentioned in Shakespeare) in Central Park. They released 40 more the following year. While the other transplanted species soon perished, the resourceful, adaptable starlings spread throughout the continent within a … [Read more...]
Pheasants: A Closer Look
Pheasants—or to be more specific, ring-necked pheasants—have been living in the U.S. for so long that many people probably don’t realize they’re not native to the States. They were introduced to the U.S. from China and East Asia in the late 1800s. Now pheasants are found in their favored habitats from southern Canada southward through most mid-latitude states. In fact, Hawaii even has ring-necked pheasants. What sort of habitat do these … [Read more...]
Migration… Not Just for the Birds
Migration may seem like something the birds have trademarked as their own exclusive adaptation to lousy weather and dwindling food supplies. As it turns out, the reasons that birds migrate are just as likely to be concerns for other creatures as well, so lots of other animals migrate, too, with some undertaking equally impressive migration feats. Food generally tops the list of why a species adapts over time to follow a seasonal migration … [Read more...]
Feeding Wildlife – Tips for Those Who Love Wildlife
Feeding wild animals seems like a fun activity the whole family can enjoy. It’s a chance to get outside, appreciate nature, and give wildlife a helping hand. You may be wondering about when the best wildlife feeding times are. Or, maybe you’re trying to figure out, “What do raccoons eat?” But maybe you’ve also noticed some warning signs posted at your local parks, ponds, or other natural areas that say, “Don’t feed the animals.” What’s up with … [Read more...]
Ultrasonic Pest Repeller… Real? Or, Ripoff?
If you’re looking for alternatives to traps and poisons to deal with a pest problem, you may be wondering, “Do ultrasonic pest repellers work?” It sounds like an easy solution, but you’d rather not waste your money if it’s not going to work. As it turns out, the Federal Trade Commission has challenged several manufacturers and retailers for making false claims about the effectiveness of electronic pest control, such as claiming their product … [Read more...]
That Bird Has Angel Wing
When you see it, you may think that the twisted wing on a goose or a duck is injured or broken. But it’s not broken, and it is not an injury; it is a deformity called “angel wing” and there is nothing angelic about it. What is angel wing? Angel wing is a debilitating condition for waterfowl and is directly caused by human feeding. When young, growing birds are fed high carbohydrate foods such as bread and popcorn (which replace the … [Read more...]
Prevent Birds Flying into Windows
You’re right to want to prevent the sad occurrence of birds flying into windows. That sudden “thump” you hear when a bird mistakenly flies into the glass is not just a sad situation for that one bird. In fact, that startling “bird hitting window” sound is heard in homes and buildings everywhere, and these collisions are taking a terrible toll on birds. Daniel Klem, a researcher who has been studying the problem of birds hitting windows for … [Read more...]