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...]
How to Get Rid of Birds
Many people spend a ton of time and money trying to attract birds for the sheer enjoyment of watching and listening to them. Nonetheless, there are times when, for one reason or another, someone is looking for a way to get rid of birds. Round up the usual suspects—European starlings, house sparrows, crows, chimney swifts, and pigeons—not because they are “bad birds” but simply because there are circumstances that sometimes place us in conflict. … [Read more...]
Bird in House? Get Her Out Safely
How’d you wind up with a bird in house? And, what’s the fastest way to get her back out before she gets hurt? First, don’t panic. You’ll be able to get her safely back outside with the steps explained below. Afterward, see if the tips on ways to make a repeat situation less likely might be relevant for your home. What to do about a wild bird in your house… A bird will naturally fly toward light when trying to get out of an enclosed area, so … [Read more...]
How to Deal with an Animal in a Vent
Are you hearing rustling noises in the bathroom and think there is an animal in the vent? Or, maybe you’re noticing a house sparrow or starling coming and going from a vent? Perhaps, a little bit of nesting material is sticking out of a vent? You’re not alone. Lots of people don’t realize that many of their home’s exterior vents—that exhaust appliances like dryers and furnaces and the different fans and vents that exhaust attics, bathrooms, … [Read more...]