Help. My neighbours seem to be feeding 5000 starlings

[CanIDigIt]

AIBU to ask my neighbours to change their bird food and try to deter the starlings?

Dawn till dusk the noise is incessant. I have an almighty headache.

I've had to rewash three loads of laundry this week from droppings.

Is it just the time of year? I've lived here 4 years although obviously I'm at home A LOT right now. They are a complete nuisance.

How can I deter the starling flocks ?

I can always tell that indoor cat has sneaked out because the starlings shout at him.

They shout at magpies too!

I'm pretty sure the advice from RSPB is to stop feeding birds as bird feed is normally not suitable for the babies.

The RSPB advise to feed birds all year. If you go to the site they tell you which foods might be harmful.
My feeders have a lot more birds in spring. I love to watch the fledgelings sitting on the wall being fed individual sunflower hearts by the parents, then later learning to use the bird feeders themselves.

It's whole peanuts that to be avoided in the nesting season as (eg) wood pigeon chicks can choke on them. They need to be kibbled.

I'd love to have more starlings, we seem to get mainly magpies and crows, who scare off the other birds. We've got feeders that are supposed to accommodate only smaller birds, but those magpies always find a way in!

Magpies and crows will raid the nests of other birds.

I understand what you mean. They make so much, even though it's awesome, noise.
I don't think it's kind of feed, though they seem to be fond of fat balls rather than nuts and mixes.

As pps said it's fledging time (mine fledged last week as did sparrows).

I get the annoyment with the washing! Any chance you can put something over for now? Something like this?

we seem to get mainly magpies and crows

That's because magpies are taking over! With humans inside these beautiful bastards decided they run the place. I've seen them do stuff I never seen them to do before. They became very "I am the boss of here".
We have magpie gangs who bully other birds, trying to take of antennas and other bits, congregate on front walls, sit on windowsills👀
I don't trust them. They ARE plotting something

Starlings aren't as common as they used to be. Our garden is a contest between nesting sparrows and pigeons. Birds are just noisy.

We have a lot of starlings on our estate and I love them but it is true that in years where there are loads of them in the garden we miss the smaller birds. We have bluetits in our nesting box, lots of sparrows and blackbirds as well as collared doves and wood pigeons this year. Some starlings but not like we have had previously.

The birds have been lovely to watch for those of us unable to leave the house.

I haven’t seen any starlings where I am for years, would dearly love to.

But no, you can't ask your neighbours not to put out bird food really.

I love the way they look as if they've got their hands behind their backs when they walk over the lawn

Me too, and I always think pigeons with their collars and clerical grey colour always look like giant vicars enjoying a garden party with the other birds.

Oh. You're beyond lucky really. I love starlings and besides the local sainsbury car park, we never see them. Even in the car park its only 6/7 at a time.
I take photos of them.
Please be kind, they are in trouble due to habitat loss and human pressure.

You are incredibly lucky. I drove for a good few hours to see a starling murmuration.
It was incredible.
Yes they are noisey. But they are in decline, it’s not for long, they are also funny and beautiful.

I still have them in my garden especially on an in the bird bath but I stopped putting out fatballs last year because they would just zoom in 40 or 50 at a time and clear out the fatballs in one go - I stopped being able to afford them . They are great to watch though.

along with other birds mentioned we have had gold finches :) its been a lovely year for birds in the back garden

@NiteFlights

'pigeons ... always look like giant vicars'

Crikey how small are the vicars where you live?

@WhoWouldHaveThoughtThat
Lol

They are giant compared to the other birds (usually sparrows) who are the other ‘people’ in my scenario

We have a flock of starlings!! They are so loud!! We have a large long hedge and they nest in there, but there are hundreds!! This past week they've been all over our lawn and it's been amazing to watch the mums feeding the youngsters!! They are not bothered about us or our dog lol.

I sympathise, i get quite a lot so have had to buy cages to go over my feeders as they bully the small birds.
they still get the seed that falls to the floor so not like they aren't getting anything
Can they cage their feeders to deter them? i bought these
amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B075NDVK2R/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1]]

Starlings here too, there's a ... ahem ... pecking order in my garden:

Robin; does what he wants, shouts at the others
Crow: a new addition, the others leave when he swoops down. He hasn't quite figured out the fat ball hanger yet
Magpie: every day at 5.30pm comes in for bread, dunks it in the water & eats. Then sits on the fountain and has a bath.
Finches: a few of these, they like the sunflower seed
Starlings: have discovered the spider infestation in my veggie area!
Doves: 10 of these, they are currently chasing each other round the garden trying to mate. Very persistent and funny to watch.
Squirrel: nicks some of seeds and is making a mess of my grass!

I'm enjoying the summer evenings watching them all.

Great photos Whatchoosay!

They nest in our stables - noisy little buggers, decimate the poo looking for goodness knows what during the night making it impossible to pick out the shavings when you’re mucking out, and shit all over the horses.

It’s only for a few weeks so just put up with it, but they’re ballsy and swoop about your head constantly!