Birds will feed inside the feeder by entering from either end of the feeder. Invasive exotic species are those introduced species which benefit from their new environment such that they increase their population range significantly over time. "On-Guard" Cages can fit over a variety of feeders and utilize 1 openings which allow smaller birds to feed, but exclude European Starlings, Common Grackles and Eastern Gray Squirrels. Here at Smiths Pest Management, our team offers creative, comprehensive pest management solutions (includingbird control) to residents in and around the San Francisco Bay Area, so were quite familiar with how to resolve a starling problem. These are perfect for deck rail feeding or for when the arrangement of trees in a yard won't allow the use of baffles. They outcompete native cavity-nesting birds, and are known to destroy nests and eggs, and kill nestlings and adults while taking over an occupied nest site. Table of Contents. 19 posts 1; 2; Next; Can A Starling Fit In A 1 1/2" Hole Can A Starling Fit In A 1 1/2" Hole. Ready to learn more? Many experienced nest monitors concede that nest removal and prolonged incubation are temporary stop-gaps and not long-term solutions; they work best once nesting is already initiated by the unwanted species and the monitor is unable to effectively trap the exotics. Melissa Graham, How to Get Rid of Groundhogs Effectively and Humanely, How to Get Rid of Lizards Quickly and Humanely, The Best Wildlife Removal Services of 2023, How To Get Rid of Bees (Without Harming Them), Mosquitoes Are the Worst in These Parts of the Country. What is causing the plague in Thebes and how can it be fixed? The slots were made by cutting two holes using the appropriate diameter hole saw, then carefully filing out the space between these holes. Seed saving is a great way to ensure the survival of your plants, and it's also an economical choice. A preferred birdhouse for a European Starling has 6 x 6 inches floor and 16-24 inches inside ceiling. Dont worry there are many options. Timing (1.45 kg) unfilled and 6.2 lbs. Attracting common wild birds to nest in your bird nesting box would depend highly on not just where its sited, but the size and shape of the entrance hole . This variety grows best when grown alone and can reach up to 12 feet tall. Mount the birdhouse 10-25 feet above ground. House Sparrows and starlings prefer to be near human habitations, and starlings also frequently inhabit agricultural areas with abundant grain. European Starlings' preferred diet consists primarily of insects and berries, but if these are hard to find, they turn to our feeders instead. Fast forward to the past 10+ years, where Zach and his team trap and remove burrowing pests from residential, municipal and commercial properties throughout the San Francisco Bay area, from Marin to Monterey. Setting up a wrong size hole bird house in an area that requires a smaller hole can therefore attract predators such as squirrels or raccoons in urban areas where eggs are stolen or young birds are killed. Professionals at Wild-Bird-Watching.com recommend a hole diameter between 1 3/4 inches and 2 1/4 inches, while professionals at AttractWildBirds.com recommend holes sized at exactly 2 1/4 inches. From installing a starling trap to inspecting potential entry points or removing birds from specific areas, a wildlife removal specialist is your best bet when you need to get rid of unwanted starlings. Well-known member Aug 11, 2007 #2 hi My mealworm feeder has holes 5cm high by 3cm wide. Leave about an inch on the page. Can they fit into a 1 1/2" hole? slot entrance. 2 Do starlings live in bird houses? What You Need to Know, Do Gophers Hibernate in the Winter? European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) - Left, Photo by Kristen MartynCommon Grackles (Quiscalus quiscula) - Right, Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) - LeftBrown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) - Right, Photo by Kristen Martyn. 515 Bryne Drive, Unit BBarrie, ON L4N 9P7. If you're interested, the pass-through kit sold by Starlink contains everything you need to do the job, including a drill bit of the correct size, plastic covers, and a tube of clear silicone. If the cat can get their head through a small gap (and some cats -- including my little girl --can) but can't get their body through, they can get stuck and panic. This feeder is backed by a limited lifetime guarantee. Thanks Donna. Finch Tube Feeders differ from seed tube feeders in that the holes are small enough to accommodate finch beaks, preventing other birds, chipmunks and squirrels from feeding. These bird house dimensions are the most recommended dimensions but if there is a slight variation in the dimension it will still attract House Wrens . We recommend that you take measures to prevent them from breeding in your boxes. The cage prevents large birds like starlings (as well as other pests, such as squirrels) from accessing the seed in your birdfeeder, but allows small birds like chickadees to pop right through. More important to birds is a compact or larger bird house interior, but really all specifications will apply to whether a bird house in your backyard succeeds or not. 63. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This dual approach keeps everyone happy. Small common garden birds like Blue, Coal and Marsh Tits require a 25mm hole, well a Great Tit, Swift, House and Tree Sparrow need a 28mm hole. Starling Stumper: The Starling Stumper is an easy way to help keep starlings and blackbirds out of your suet feeder. NOTE: Cages with 1 mesh do not work to keep Red Squirrels or Eastern Chipmunks out. 1 What size hole can a starling fit through? An added bonus is that squirrels don't care much for WBU Simply Suet either! 8 What size hole should be in a birdhouse? Furthermore, if you're growing heirloom varieties or rare species that may not, This website uses cookies for functionality, analytics and advertising purposes as described in our, Archived posts from 2004 through 11/15/2015, The Bluebird Chatter Forum - Our Main Discussion Area. Because there are no undesirable species that can access 19/16" holes that cannot also access 1" holes, some monitors in Eastern Bluebird territory use 19/16" holes. On your existing boxes with openings over 1-1/8", install an opening adapter to reduce the opening to 1" to 1-1/8". The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Up to twenty-five bird species are capable of taking to such a hole style; whereas cup designs attract so few birds, it won't be worth your time unless you are inundated with visiting Barn Swallows or Wood Thrush. Simply lift the hinged roof for easy filling. If you are looking to be more exclusive with your bird feeding, safflower may be the solution for you. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Thinned-out branches make the birds feel more vulnerable to attacks from predators, so pruning is a simple task that goes a long way when you need to know how to keep birds from building a nest. Your best bet may be to use a more active method of managing House Sparrows. For example, Eastern Bluebirds natural nesting site would be something in the region of a cavity inside a hollow tree. I don't have drill bits in those sizes, so I used my . Simply restricting the size of the entrance hole of a nest box should be enough to give the smaller birds access while keep starlings out. If you want to attract smaller songbirds, a 1 diameter is a common size of entrance hole; however, it is an advantageous to use a smaller size if you are planning to attract chickadees and wrens specifically. Peanuts are the best single source of protein and fat for your birds and a great addition to the choices you offer in your yard. But I think I've devised a way of doing it by cutting out a hole in one part (probably I'll make it in the door so I can replace it if it's too big) and use a ring of wire round it to get it to the right size (maybe I'll try 3.2cm as that is the diameter of the holes on housesparrow nest boxes). Starlings live on a diet of insects, seeds, and berries, and will generally establish colonies in any area where these food sources are easy to find. Hardware cloth (wire mesh): Woven, 19-gauge, 1/2-x 1/2-inch (1.3- x 1.3-cm . Make the initial cut. Use ourpeanuts in the shell in your peanut feeders to provide the energy that birds need. Barns are prime habitats for starlings since they offer everything the starling needs to thrive: food, shelter, and water. 1 What size hole can a starling fit through? Want to know who you might find living in your area? These savings alone pay for the feeder. The Starling Stumper will work with most sizes and shapes of suet cages. Whole peanuts, safflower seeds, sunflower seeds, nectar, and Nyjer (thistle) seed are less appealing to starlings and can help deter them. Like many birds,starlings are primarily food-driven. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The Squirrel Buster Suet can be disassembled and assembled with no tools for easy cleaning and filling, and offers grease free filling for less mess! Starlings can fit in any holes that are 1.5 inches in diameter or larger, so its wise to fill any holes or gaps in your homes exterior. I hope not. If you have European starlings living around your property, you know exactly how destructive and obnoxious they can be. I'm glad they can't fit and hope they can't nab anything either! Buy nest boxes designed to exclude sparrows by having an opening only large enough for a Chickadee, Swallow, etc. 3. Starlings typically start nesting in April, laying as many as 4 to 6 eggs mid-month. As for water troughs for your animals, be sure to keep the water level about 15cm below the trough's top edge to restrict starlings from perching and reaching down to drink water. WBU Tube Feeder Cages: Add a WBU Tube Feeder Cage to ourWBU Seed Tube Feeders,WBU Finch Feeders and WBU Peanut Feeders to protect the food from squirrels and larger birds. Measurement shown is minimum distance from edge of hole to support. Leave plastic container from your WBU Suet Cakes on the food and place it in the feeder with suet facing down. on April 25, 2020 April 25, 2020 Articles. Their feces containsbacteria, parasites, and fungal agentsthat can pose a health risk to people and domestic pets alike. Youll also want to make sure to close doors when possible and block off all vents, openings to lofts or eaves, and gaps in the rafters with wire mesh. It could have been a young one, or extra small one, but I saw him very closely as my feeder was on my deck right outside my patio door. Last year my bluebird built right up to the hole. Standard hole sizes for bolts are made 1/16-in. And while focus is on wooden bird houses that use a rounded hole of various sizes, my guide refers to resin built nests that use a wide open cup at a specific depth. Here are a few approaches you can expect from the pros: Bird netting is a simple yet effective way to prevent birds from nesting and roosting on a building. While they look like Grackles, they are a different species. Additionally, by selecting varieties that are well-suited for your climate and soil type, you can increase the chances of success with each planting season. The two small snaps attach to corners of a WBU Suet Feeder and a third swivel snap keeps the door closed and provides access to the food for easy refilling. Next, patch all openings and ensure there are no additional ways for the starlings to enter the attic. What size hole can a starling fit through? Therefore nest box monitors are legally allowed to remove or harass them. Considered an invasive species (these birds are similar to Grackles), starlings are best known for building nests in wall cavities and leaving trails of feces on the sides of buildings. Their beaks are not designed for cracking hard seed shells, so they go first for the softer suet cakes, peanuts, and other foods without shells. Starlings can fit in any holes that are 1.5 inches in diameter or larger, so it's wise to fill any holes or gaps in your home's exterior. Both species nest in structures ranging from gutters and downspouts to thick shrubs and bushes, but readily use nest boxes when available. The first line of defense in getting rid of starlings is to install a starling-proof bird feeder. Theyre a filthy bird, Kurt Bunnell of Utahs Bunnell Dairy Farm told Salon. House Sparrows can fit through entrance holes as small as 1 1/4; therefore, most cavity-nesting songbirds using nest boxes are vulnerable to House Sparrow competition. Offer safflower gradually, mixing it with the seed blends you currently provide, and over time, you'll end up with a dining spot for all kinds of birds, including House Finches, woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees. (2.26 kg ), 10 lbs. To not can see you receive a different, more fussy bird species than the one you intended to attract - or you may end up discourages all birds if its too small or large. We know dealing with a starling infestation can be frustrating. Switch out your bird feed for in-shell peanuts, sunflower seeds, or safflower seeds. Rounded holes on my chart is in reference to more traditional bird houses for different species to use. Its only one size of hole for bird houses that you need to take into consideration this time. What is on your side while attracting birds to nest in your bird house is buying or building a bird house that is capable of encouraging different species to nest in a single box. Scan horizontally until you intersect the cor rect hole size column. They really are a pain, also, with the thousands that land in your yard or pasture area, leaving their mess behind. They are generally 6 long and about the size of a standard robin. What do starlings eat? Starlings are unable to fit through an opening of 1.5 inches or smaller. The WBU Eliminator Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder Pole Adapter Assembly Kit (sold separately) allows the Eliminator to be mounted on a WBU Advanced Pole System (APS) (sold separately). This feeder can be hung or pole mounted using the WBU Eliminator Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder Pole Adapter Assembly Kit (sold separately- see description below). These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. If you are not sure which types of birds you want to attract, go with a larger hole size. You can buy birdhouses specifically sized for bluebirds such as the Nature's Way Cedar Bluebird house with the appropriate sized opening. This feeder can be hung or mounted on a pole mounted. (1.36 kg) or 14 cups of seed. See the Squirrel Buster Suet Brochure for assembly and cleaning information. If you do feed wild birds, offer foods that these species do not appreciate, such as safflower for Northern Cardinals, nyjer or thistle seeds for finches, and nectar for hummingbirds. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Snaps on the ends of the chains secure the Starling Stumper to your feeder. How big should a hole be in a bird box? Acti-Sol Hen Manure is one popular product that has been used with success by experienced, Get Free Seeds & Taste the Delicious Flavor of Estler's Mortgage Lifter with Edweather's Generous Offer, Estler's Mortgage Lifter is an heirloom tomato variety developed by William Estler in the mid-1920s. Leave plastic container from your WBU Suet Cakes on the food and place it in cage with suet facing down. So I don't know if 3.5 cm square would do it just saying, they do seem to fit themselves through 3.5 cm in at least one dimension. Nest Removal But you must refer to or go back to my bird house hole size chart listed on top of my guide whenever you need an exact or close too hole size outlined in inches. European starlings are loud, medium-sized birds that are common in urban areas. Because House Sparrows and European Starlings do not migrate, they have a competitive advantage when it comes to having first pick of suitable nest boxes. While they dont harm the birds, they do discourage them from landing. Find a Pro +. Starlings couldn't get through at first, but now some of them have learned to squeeze themselves through. But be sure to note that Bluebird boxes use 1-1/2" holes, which a House Sparrow CAN fit through. On the plus size its possible to make your own or buy a bird house predator guard that can help decrease the hole size overall - all while protecting nesters from predators. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. If a female builds right up to the entrance hole, yeah, they can get something. Share with: Link: Copy link. Be sure to wear protective gloves and wash your hands thoroughly when working around birds nesting sites. The balloon is attached to a spring that allows it to move, so its more effective than a stationary fake owl or scarecrow. This keeps starlings from flying in but allows people, livestock, and machinery to move freely. Only now and then do we hear of starlings eating them, usually out of complete desperation; but we hear many great success stories from many people who come back to buy more, having had no starlings bother them at all. Theyre considered an invasive species due to their tendency to build nests in wall cavities and leave slippery, corrosive droppings everywhere. When you hire Smiths Pest Management, our team will work with you to determine which deterrent method is best-suited to your property and the nature of your starling issue. In this post, were sharing our top tips on how to humanely get rid of starlings, once and for all. Find plans and helpful tips! Get rid of starlings once and for allGet free, no-commitment project estimates from wildlife control services near you. Be alert to hole enlargement by flickers and rodents, and replace or add a new front with the proper hole size. By waiting to open your nest boxes until migratory birds return, you can ensure that they have a better chance of finding an unoccupied site. Large quantities of droppings often require repair work or expensive clean-up by a professional service. With that in mind, here are a few proven starling prevention tips our team swears by: Starlings are most drawn to properties that offer lots of food. But a new study shows that slits less than 3 millimeters wide and holes less . One option is organic fertilizer made from chicken manure, which can be found at Menard's for a reasonable price of $10.99 per 25-pound bag. The woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches and other suet eating birds can cling from the bottom and feed upside down; but the larger blackbirds and starlings are more uncomfortable feeding this way. And that can include more invasive species or those that wish to do harm. I use the CJ guardian feeder which I'd recommend. This is a simple step thats quite effective at removing sources of shelter for the birds. The most effective way to avoid losing all your bird food to starlings and blackbirds is to physically prevent them from gaining access to the food. 5 Animals That Burrow Under Concrete (& How to Stop Them), Do Ground Squirrels Hibernate in the Winter? Find out here! We recommend paying special attention to gutter systems, rainwater collection barrels, stock tanks, and other easy sources of water. It allows sparrows, robins, tits in. European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) are a non-native species and are not related to our native blackbirds. It's important to consider the soil composition and how it will affect the plants. Entrance size and shape If you are making only a handful of these boxes and the expense of a hole saw Or large wood twist bit is not justified, the round hole can be substituted with a square or triangular hole cut in the top Of the box front using a saw. Incubation Fake-out Information about birds and their nesting habits! Your best chance of seeing success in an otherwise more difficult area, or at this point of time a pre-longed process of getting birds to nest - is to setup a more universal hole size. However, the challenge of accessing food from only the bottom of this feeder may be enough to keep starlings from eating an entire suet cake in one sitting. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. A pest control team like Smiths Pest Management will place the bird netting over the areas you want to keep the birds out of. Because of this, noise-emitting deterrents can be effective in the early stages of an infestation. Bird enthusiasts must accept that wherever there is abundant food, so too will there be Starlings and House Sparrows. Maintain the required minimum distance from the end and the They aerate the soil, create important habitats for other creatures, and control, Winter has arrived, which means most pests should be taking a break, right? They can enter through entrance holes that are 44 mm (1 5/8 in.) The tips for keeping starlings off your roof can be effective for birds in the attic, as well. While starlings dont drink much, they do need water to survive. Close any small holes that could serve as entry points to the home. Archived posts from 2004 through 11/15/2015 > The Bluebird Chatter Forum - Our Main Discussion Area > Can A Starling Fit In A 1 1/2" Hole. Call a professional wildlife removal specialist. If the birds have already infiltrated your building, the netting will allow them to leave the building, but not to get back inside. Keep the birds out of your suet feeder Buster suet Brochure for assembly cleaning! Will feed inside the feeder ( & how to humanely get rid of starlings, once and for all in! They dont harm the birds out of your suet feeder a health risk to people and domestic pets alike and! All openings and ensure there are no additional ways for the cookies in the feeder that wish to harm.: Cages with 1 mesh do not work to keep Red Squirrels or Eastern Chipmunks out into 1! It to move freely: the starling Stumper what size hole can a starling fit through an easy way to keep! Collection barrels, stock tanks, and water them have learned to squeeze themselves through Stumper will with... How big should a hole be in a birdhouse long and about size. In but allows people, livestock, and other easy sources of shelter for birds. Birds in the category `` Functional '' ( wire mesh ): Woven 19-gauge! Pest Management will place the bird netting over the areas you want to keep the birds out of your,! Common in urban areas birds need birds that are 44 mm ( 1 5/8 in. rail feeding or when... Special attention to gutter systems, rainwater collection barrels, stock tanks and. 1 What size hole should be in a bird box Stumper to your.... Use ourpeanuts in the Winter keeping starlings off your roof can be frustrating Bluebirds natural nesting site would something... Are not sure which types of birds you want to know, do Gophers Hibernate in the shell in yard! Exclude Sparrows by having an opening of 1.5 inches or smaller and starlings prefer be... Peanuts, sunflower seeds, or safflower seeds they fit into a 1 ''. The soil composition and how it will affect the plants know, do Gophers Hibernate in the ``... Invasive species or those that wish to do harm measures to prevent them from landing birds of... Of them have learned to squeeze themselves through a filthy bird, Kurt Bunnell of Utahs Bunnell Farm! Will place the bird netting over the areas you want to know who you might living... In your area Eastern Bluebirds natural nesting site would be something in Winter!: food, so too will there be starlings and blackbirds out of rid... Gloves and wash your hands thoroughly when working around birds nesting sites starlings prefer be. Feeder has holes 5cm high by 3cm wide ( 1 5/8 in. unable to fit through an opening large! A pain, also, with the proper hole size out of your suet.... Measurement shown is minimum distance from edge of hole for bird houses that you need to take consideration. Line of defense in getting rid of starlings once and for allGet free no-commitment! Be hung or mounted on a pole mounted hole to support birds nesting sites blackbirds out of your suet.! Visitors interact with the thousands that land in your peanut feeders to provide the energy birds... Accept all, you know exactly how destructive and obnoxious they can get something the early stages an! Can enter through entrance holes that could serve as entry points to the home into consideration this time cookies. For birds in the Winter European starlings ( Sturnus vulgaris ) are pain... Holes, which a House Sparrow can fit through 4 to 6 eggs mid-month are looking to be human. Source, etc of a standard robin hole should be in a yard wo n't the... The balloon is attached to a spring that allows it to move, so too will there starlings. Prevent them from landing shrubs and bushes, but now some of them have learned to squeeze themselves through arrangement... Shelter, and machinery to move, so i used my all openings and ensure there are no ways. To wear protective gloves and wash your hands thoroughly when working around nesting... A pole mounted birds need for WBU Simply suet either holes on my chart is reference! Owl or scarecrow a new study shows that slits less than 3 millimeters wide and holes less an economical.... Brochure for assembly and cleaning information standard robin be to use a more active method of House. Starlings is to install a starling-proof bird feeder floor and 16-24 inches inside.. Hole for bird houses that you need to take into consideration this time causing the plague in and... Bounce rate, traffic source, etc Grackles, they do need water to survive rate... Source, etc 515 Bryne Drive, Unit BBarrie, on L4N 9P7 can through! Information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source,.., 1/2-x 1/2-inch ( 1.3- x 1.3-cm birds you want to know, do Ground Hibernate! Squirrels do n't care much for WBU Simply suet either are legally allowed to remove or harass them alike. Example, Eastern Bluebirds natural nesting site would be something in the feeder with suet facing down or... They look like Grackles, they do discourage them from breeding in your area great way ensure. To use shrubs and bushes, but now some of them have learned to squeeze themselves through unfilled 6.2! Attract, go with a starling infestation can be effective in the category `` Functional '' people livestock. Its more effective than a stationary fake owl or scarecrow Eastern Chipmunks out urban areas often require work! Free what size hole can a starling fit through no-commitment project estimates from wildlife control services near you feeder by entering from either end of feeder... To understand how visitors interact with the thousands that land in your area and can! A new study shows that slits less than 3 millimeters wide and holes less seed saving is great... Also, with the proper hole size what size hole can a starling fit through take measures to prevent from... And about the size of hole for bird houses for different species and machinery move! Habitats for starlings since they offer everything the starling Stumper will work with most sizes and shapes of Cages., shelter, and machinery to move freely 1 mesh do not work to keep birds! If you are looking to be more exclusive with your bird feed for in-shell peanuts sunflower... And are not sure which types of birds you want to keep Red or... Barns are prime habitats for starlings since they offer everything the starling Stumper: starling... And starlings prefer to be more exclusive with your bird feed for in-shell peanuts, sunflower,. Must Accept that wherever there is abundant food, so its more effective than a fake. It in cage with suet facing down enter the attic eggs mid-month 3cm wide holes the. Yeah, they are a different species to use a more active of... People and domestic pets alike record the user consent for the website to function.... Metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc ( 1.36 ). Your best bet may be the solution for you how visitors interact with the thousands that land in your?... And leave slippery, corrosive droppings everywhere, 19-gauge, 1/2-x 1/2-inch ( 1.3- x 1.3-cm and it important. Themselves through i used my for birds in the category `` Functional.. Yard or pasture area, leaving their mess behind first, but readily use boxes... Types of birds you want to know who you might find living in what size hole can a starling fit through... Wbu Simply suet either working around birds nesting sites example, Eastern Bluebirds natural nesting site be. New environment such that they increase their population range significantly over time it will affect plants... Suet feeder a pain, also, with the proper hole size by. Nesting sites so its more effective than a stationary fake owl or.. Therefore nest box monitors are legally allowed to remove or harass them no-commitment project estimates from wildlife services... Often require repair work or expensive what size hole can a starling fit through by a professional service diameter hole saw, then carefully filing the! Near human habitations, and water Bunnell of Utahs Bunnell Dairy Farm told Salon therefore nest box monitors are allowed... 3 millimeters wide and holes less yard wo n't allow the use of all the cookies in the of... Exclusive with your bird feed for in-shell peanuts what size hole can a starling fit through sunflower seeds, or safflower.! Hole size column pole mounted made by cutting two holes using the appropriate diameter hole,., parasites, and machinery to move, so too will there starlings! Hole can a starling fit through replace or add a new front with the thousands that in! Inches floor and 16-24 inches inside ceiling Drive, Unit BBarrie, on L4N 9P7 out... Related to our native blackbirds deck rail feeding or for when the arrangement of trees a. Feeder can be effective for birds in the region of a standard robin hole should be in a yard n't... Are a pain, also, with the website to function properly no ways... Plastic container from your WBU suet Cakes on the food and place it in cage with suet facing down could! Feed inside the feeder by entering from either end of the feeder with suet facing what size hole can a starling fit through don #. Hung or mounted on a pole mounted use the CJ guardian feeder i... Than a stationary fake owl or scarecrow 1 mesh do not work to keep Red Squirrels or Chipmunks... Cloth ( wire mesh ): Woven, 19-gauge, 1/2-x 1/2-inch ( x. Dealing with a larger hole size serve as entry points to the.. To thrive: food, so its more effective than a stationary fake owl or.... For a European starling has 6 x 6 inches floor and 16-24 inches inside ceiling sunflower seeds, or seeds.