Garden

[gardenman]

There are traps you can use to catch sparrows and starlings. One of the more common is the S&S Controller trap. (S&S stands for Sparrows and Starlings.) They're commonly used by Purple Martin enthusiasts. The traps are typically put next to a house or tree (not typical Purple Martin nesting areas), but sparrows and starlings will fly in, check them out, and get trapped. You have to be comfortable destroying the caught birds, which may or may not be legal in your area.

On the federal level, it's generally okay to kill the sparrows and starlings as they're not protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. On the state and local level, it gets a lot more complicated. Some areas require licenses, permits, approvals, etc. Some people nearby may object and ostracize you even if it's allowed legally. "How dare you kill those sweet little birdies!" And there are often rules and regulations on how they may or must be killed. 

If you hang out on Purple Martin fancier forums, you can learn a lot more. Martin fans view sparrows and starlings as their mortal enemies and can sound a bit bloodthirsty on occasion when discussing sparrows and starlings. 

It's a fight you can't totally win, but you can lessen their numbers using traps. You just have to be comfortable becoming a killing machine, as the traps can catch dozens of birds a day. 

[Patriot3]

@gardenman Wow, I didn't know that. However, I just want the starlings, not the other birds. I understand what you're saying.

I have a pair of cardinals who have nested in pine trees close by for several years. They come to the feeder occasionally. Don't know why there aren't more cardinals around. I put their favorite food out.

[gardenman]

Yeah. Purple Martin forums are 'interesting.' Some put out piles of seed and sit with a pellet gun shooting any sparrow or starling that approaches. Some keep a living female sparrow in a cage or trap and use her to lure other sparrows. They love their Martins and hate sparrows and starlings. Some post photos and updates of their daily kills. It's an interesting subset of the birding hobby.

Invasive species are a challenge. When it comes to fish, you're generally obligated to kill any invasive species you catch. You can't even put them in a live well. Catch and release is prohibited. Catch and keep is prohibited. If you catch an invasive fish, it must die immediately. Southern waterways are filled with non-native species that have either escaped from fish farms or been released. If you catch an aquarium fish, say a large arowana (a $200+ fish to buy) you have to immediately kill it instead of taking it home to your aquarium.

And it's not just animals, but plants too. There was a story a few years back of a man who bought 77 acres of woods in Tennessee. He cleared seven acres and built his dream house and several outbuildings. Everything was done and he was just waiting for his CO (certificate of occupancy) to move in. Then he got notified that a census of the 70 acres of woodland showed an unacceptable level of invasive species. They held his CO until he had all 70 acres clear cut, stumped, replanted with native species, and had a forest management plan. All of which cost more than his house. And he ended up with more of a field than a forest.

Some places have largely declared war on any invasive plant or animal. Some places are more lenient. It pays to know the local rules.

[northiie57]