[SIZE=6]I do not Beleeeeeeve it!!!
I have just been informed by a materials supplier here in the UK,
that starlings have been put on the forbidden list.:mad::mad::mad:
[/SIZE]
i read in the paper here in the usa that the dept of agriculture poisoned thousands of them.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004286979_starlings17.html
I believe that the eurasian starling is currently the most prolific invasive species here in the United States. You can have a bunch from over here if you want em, we’d be happy to get rid of them…
Gentlemen!
It looks like a new export opertunity for the USA.
Talk about coals to Newcastle!!!
Donald,
Some time within the next few weeks the fruit on our crabapple tree will have frozen/thawed/fermented enough to draw flocks of starlings. If I could figure out some way to harvest them without having my neighbors alert the authorities, I could probably meet your starling needs for decades to come (lol).
Regards,
Scott
Poison the little bastards. There is a product that is used for cow dip put it on some corn and adios. For course it will kill other birds. Folks in my area have used it to kill crows in their gardens.
poison works, but this is more fun…
http://www.gamousa.com/product.aspx?product=Hunter%20Extreme&productID=62
+1 to Hugefish
Sneak up behind them.
Sprinkle salt on their tails.
Now they can’t fly.
Smack them on the head with a broom.
Remove the skin/feathers.
Make Starling pie with the left overs.
Please remember to have someone video tape the first part of this.
Buddy
I really like the look of that air rifle, I can think of some
other targets as well as the starlings.:mad::mad:
We have tons of those birds here. They are not protected, and neither is the English House Sparrow. Starlings don’t bother me, but I hate the English House Sparrows. They kill bluebird parents here to take over their nests. Sometimes they actually nest on top of the bluebird babies or eggs…they just want the nests. They also fight over Purple Martin houses. I hate those little buggers. Too bad we haven’t come up for patterns for the EHS, I have a large population over here in my yard.
Hi Donald,
Is the ban on flies with Starling or could you at least stock up on a few starling skins before the sales ban comes into place. Starling is one of my favorite hackle materials for small spiders, and it’s not like they are endangered (or even close to it)? What’s the rational behind a ban?
- Jeff
[b]Donald, I suspect that air rifle sends out a pellet with more than 20 ft/lbs of muzzle energy. Wouldn’t that make it illegal in the UK?
Ed
[/b]
When I was a kid they put a bounty on European starlings. All other birds were off limits and protected except them, they were the only bird us kids were allowed to shoot with our Red Rider BB guns. We got 5 cents for each set of starling feet we turned in. It didn’t help though as they multiplied like rats and now are everywhere. I have them nesting in the eaves of my house every year and at least one or two always commit suicide so that I can tie flies. ( commit suicide = land in my sights )
Yes , here in PA there is no bag limit or closed season , they are so prolific.
Ed - I would not know, I was only joking about the air-rifle.
[b]From what I can find out from the RSPB web-site,
the Starling has gone on their red list. It is a bit complicated but
one of the criteria appears to be an over 50% fall in their breeding
rate.
So! in theory,
if that drops from 2 million to 1 million over a period of years. (?)
To coin a variation on an old saying -
There are statistics and there is blind dogmatic stupidity.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/starling/index.aspx
There now seems to be an opening for someone in the USA/Canada.
You have huge numbers of a pest bird and bird skin dyeing is as well
practised on your side of the Atlantic as ours. There may not be a fortune
to be made but as Skues said http://donaldnicolson.webplus.net/page93.html
You’ll notice that the House Sparrow is on the same page, but not much
was said. I think when Skues wrote this, the Sparrow was thought to
be too small to be bothered with. They might be re-considered as a good
source of small hackles and quills. It is also on the Red List.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/h/housesparrow/index.aspx
[/b]
You forgot step one…find a swamp witch
and step 2…Steal her broom
Maodiver,
Uh…I’m just not that brave… or stupid, either.
I can buy a broom and remain croak free.
No toads fer me!
Buddy
2 birds 1 stone: except with a pellet rifle.
Getting rid of starlings, AND making a buck off them.
I could definitely get in on this. 
Ya’ll live trap some to ship to Donald; I’ll dig him up some kudzu plants too.