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

The only way I've found to keep them away is not to use any type of feeder they can access. No tray feeders and no hopper feeders big enough for them to perch on. I have a tube feeder and a mesh tube feeder for nyjer seed, a window feeder (too small for grackles and the like), and a Squirrel Buster Standard. The grackles come by once in awhile but there is nowhere for them to really get much of anything. Mostly they squawk their frustration and then I chase them off and I don't see them again for a few days. I saw one try to land on the squirrel buster - he sort of teetered there for a minute and then fell/flew off.

The last couple years I had Bluebirds nesting in snags in the back yard (both snags have since fallen over). I cut way down on the food in the feeders, which I usually do anyway in the summer, because I didn't want to attract House Sparrows. Would put out a little BOSS, but only put out the home-made suet nuggets if the Bluebirds wanted some. This Spring, I had a pair of Baltimore Orioles nesting in a large Pin Oak right above the feeders. Did the same thing, cut down on the food in the feeders, because the Orioles were very territorial about the tree. They were especially aggressive towards Blue Jays, Grackles, and Crows so I stopped throwing any tidbits on the ground (like old corn chips, which the Jays and Crows like). So I would favor the security of the nesting birds. During the summer and fall, there are normally abundant natural sources of food, so feeders are not critical. Birds eat a lot of insects and feed their young insects, so they are unlikely to starve if you aren't feeding them.

I saw two blackbirds visit my feeder day after the snow storm we had here in nw Indiana a couple weeks ago and although I've seen starlings in the area descend on any tree with fruit - haven't seen any at my feeders. Finches are also MIA