I hope the Hunting Venue is the best place for this, if not, my apologies.
I've got a problem with some nuisance starlings nesting over my back patio.
Over the patio is a corrugated-metal awning, and they nest there this time of year. The roof overhangs the awning by maybe 18"-24" as typical of the rest of the house. I believe they are nesting between this overhang, although I can't see it. And the awning isn't strong enough for me to stand on to get a better look.
They make an awful noise in the mornings this time of year, and my first instinct is to grab my 12 gauge and blast-away terminator style, but I don't think that'll go over smoothly with my wife, the neighbors, or the local law. I have placed a loaded Red-Ryder by the door for the next time I hear them doing God-knows-what up there. (Seriously, imagine tap-dancing squirrels on a tin-roof...) The good news is that when I have seen them coming out, they have to crawl awkwardly through the small corrugations on the underside before flying out. This leaves them vulnerable to a shot from the mighty Red-Ryder. (Assuming I don't miss from point-blank and hit the sliding glass door )
I'm not sure how to best repel them. I thought about a fake Owl, but I'm not sure that will work on the Starlings, and fear it will drive the robins, cardinals, blue-jays and finch(es?) out as well.
Any advice would be highly appreciated. Thank You.
I've got a problem with some nuisance starlings nesting over my back patio.
Over the patio is a corrugated-metal awning, and they nest there this time of year. The roof overhangs the awning by maybe 18"-24" as typical of the rest of the house. I believe they are nesting between this overhang, although I can't see it. And the awning isn't strong enough for me to stand on to get a better look.
They make an awful noise in the mornings this time of year, and my first instinct is to grab my 12 gauge and blast-away terminator style, but I don't think that'll go over smoothly with my wife, the neighbors, or the local law. I have placed a loaded Red-Ryder by the door for the next time I hear them doing God-knows-what up there. (Seriously, imagine tap-dancing squirrels on a tin-roof...) The good news is that when I have seen them coming out, they have to crawl awkwardly through the small corrugations on the underside before flying out. This leaves them vulnerable to a shot from the mighty Red-Ryder. (Assuming I don't miss from point-blank and hit the sliding glass door )
I'm not sure how to best repel them. I thought about a fake Owl, but I'm not sure that will work on the Starlings, and fear it will drive the robins, cardinals, blue-jays and finch(es?) out as well.
Any advice would be highly appreciated. Thank You.