humane and safe bird removal

Birds are nesting in the attic of a duplex I manage for my sister. Entrance is through round halls(about 3" in diameter) cut into the walls of the house just below the roofline. At one time all the holes were covered with screen mesh. Over the years the mesh has disappeared from some of the holes and there are starlings nesting in the attic.

What would be the most humane and safest method to use to get the starlings to leave the attic without harming them? Also is this the time of year when they are having baby birds and if so when would that period end. I will be able to nail up new screening just as soon as the birds are out, so I will not have to worry about them returning.

Thank you,

Bob

Reply to
Bob
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Most birds breed in the spring, or sometimes twice/year, spring and fall. Chicks are fledged within 2-3 months after hatching. If possible, wait until late winter to seal the holes.

If you need to get rid of the birds sooner, and your city or county has a local ASPCA chapter, or an avian vet, call them for a referral.

Reply to
Rick

Stuffed owl?

Reply to
dadiOH

"European Starlings can carry diseases that are transmissible to livestock and to people, including TGE (transmissible gastroenteritis

- a disease of swine), blastomycosis, and samonella."

"In addition to the problems they create for people, European Starlings also have detrimental effects on native ecosystems, particularly through their tendency to out compete native bird species for food and nest sites."

Reply to
tm

We are currently having this same problem.

Our birds, apparently, are gaining access to our attic through vents they have pecked at and pushed up to squeeze through. Because we are remodeling our master bath and have the shower ceiling currently open to the attic (for electrical and plumbing work), we have had SEVERAL birds come into our master bath. Two days ago, I came home to find TWO birds flying around our bathroom. I decided it was time to call a wild animal control service.

For $169, they came out, extracted the birds (humanely caught and released outside), inspected where they were coming in, cleaned up the birds nests, and for $59 more got on our steep room and fixed one of the problem areas. We chose not to have them replace the vents at this time, as we are currently looking to replace the current vents with attic fans. In the meantime, we have sealed the vents from the inside to prevent continued access.

In my opinion, this was $200 well spent.

Reply to
netplayn

- tm -

- Nehmo - You stopped quoting before this sentence: "The study concluded however, that starling droppings were not a significant source of human infection"

Moreover, you didn't mention that starlings limit the insect population. Which would you rather have, flies and mosquitoes, or starlings?

Reply to
Nehmo Sergheyev

If I understand you right, you are more interested in the welfare of the birds than you are about the welfare of the tenants. A lawyer would love to have that case!

Bob S.

Reply to
Bob S.

- Bob S -

- Nehmo - The birds aren't intruding the living space., there's no indication a tenant has suffered any damages, and the landlord is addressing the problem.

Lawyers want cases that have a good possibility of yielding some money. There's nothing in this situation.

The landlord is to be applauded for showing concern for wild animals.

Reply to
Nehmo Sergheyev

Indeed. Now, if you had lawyers infesting the attic...

Just the other day I humanely captured and released rats *and* termites into the wild. Gave me such a warm and fuzzy feeling. There is a slug in the garden that I will soon trap and helicopter into the wilderness.

Starlings are a nuisance. They are filthy and evil. Their very existence makes the baby jesus cry. They nest in the same spot for generations, piling up shit and disease. Kill them now, remove all evidence of their presence, and carefully screen the entry point. Your tenants will thank you, mother earth will smile and the baby jesus can dry his tears.

Reply to
tm

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