How frustrating for you! Starlings are non-native invaders that harrass native cavity nesters like bluebirds and swallows, and are therefore fair game as far as they aren't protected by the Migratory Bird Act (Federal law.) So, you can legally remove the nest if your neighbors OK it. (I realize this may not be a popular option with some others . . . ) In some areas they occur in such quantity that they are a problem as far as diseases and droppings. Old CD's and Milar balloons are other shiny hanging objects you could use. A net or cages over your plants until they are tall enough to not be of interest to the birds is certainly a good idea, and then you can remove them before the different plant sizes and harvest considerations become a problem. You could get a dog or cat, though they wouldn't be specific to the starlings.

not really, unless it gets ugly...even the usda sanctions poisoning starlings in certain instances....here's a snippet of a press report, The use of this chemical is only effective during the winter months when large flocks consistently feed in one location. During the spring, summer and fall months, the birds are less likely to congregate in large numbers. During these months, the birds feed throughout the city, as well as local fields on grain and insects, making treatment applications impossible. its best to just wait them out in the winter...the smaller birds all know that there's a pecking order at the feeder and they will wait their turn

Bulldinkie, I have tested this entrance on starlings and they cannot get through it even with the porch on the outside you see here. If the gourd is a regular gourd without no porch at all the starlings are really at a disadvantage then and it is impossible for one to enter. The plates you see here on these gourds are made out of real good plastic and S&K Manufacturing out of St.Louis and a great man named Dave McClaskey are manufacturing this entrance I invented into his martin products. There is a fine line between the sizes of the largest male Purple Martin and the smallest female starling. If the entrance is too small the martins can struggle. If it is too big the smaller female starling could get inside especially porched like you see on these big ol' gourds. The size of this entrance is very exact and they are injection molded to insure they are all the same. By having this kind of precision accuracy my entrance will stop starlings of all sizes from gaining access to the gourds or martin houses. Just as the 1 and 1\2 inch diameter entrance hole saved the Bluebirds from the nest robbing starlings I am on a mission to see my clinger entrance be the best Starling Resistent Entrance out there to save the Purple Martins from their number one enemy..The European Starling. Vampatar..Thanks.. I am glad you like the entrances. I am so proud of them I know that! It is a great feeling to watch your martins zoom in and out of these openings and know they are fully protected from starlings. I have great piece of mind now using these and the 2 inch rould hole for Purple Martins is going to be a thing of the past if I have anything to say about it. This shape is perfect for the streamlined body of the Purple Martin but at the same time it defeats the starlings by not allowing them the room to get their thicker chest and belly in enough to be able to use their chickelike legs to push inside. I know you know what I am talking about if you are using my entrances..Your martins are safe and I am glad you like them....Mike

My bluebird house hole is 1-3/8 inches. We went and measured it again last night to double check. My husband said he could put some kind of metal ring around the hole to see if that would work. And if you are thinking....Are you sure that's a starling that is getting in that small of hole in a BB house? It's unbelievable to see, but yep, it sure is! We have been bluebirding for awhile, but we have never had any problems with starlings before. It is a first. We have had great success with all bluebird nesting so far. Last year, we had 7 beautiful little bluebirds. They are so fun to watch splashing in the birdbath.