How to Make a Starling Funnel Trap 2023

Learn How to Make a Starling Funnel Trap from a 2 feet wide roll of one inch square cage wire to trap the invasive European Starling which competes negatively with our native cavity nesting birds.
Materials and Tools
amzn.to/3kY1pdQ (one inch square cage wire)
amzn.to/3Zw0fWk (lineman wire cutter pliers)
amzn.to/3JgKrke (tape measure)
amzn.to/3ZKH6zC (masking tape)
amzn.to/3JiUp4A (rubber mallet)
amzn.to/3L42Vpx (leather gloves)
amzn.to/3SRDppm (small binder clips)
Equipment Used to Make this Video
(Camera)
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS 12MP Digital Camera with 2.8-Inch LCD
amzn.to/2G6OgGH
(Tripod)
Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 055 Aluminium 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column
amzn.to/2oTp7Yq
(Head)
Manfrotto 128RC Micro Fluid Head with 200PL 14 RC2 Rapid Connector Plate
amzn.to/2FFO9Ep
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows me to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!
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[@f4fake22]

Hands down best starling trap ever, first morning of setting trap out I caught 11 starlings. Amazing results

[@BackyardBirdsUS]

That is amazing. Just amazing. Very glad to hear this!

[@galinswigart]

I live in a mixed wooded and suburban area, we don’t have a ton of starlings but I do see flocks of up to 20 from time to time and I can see them sticking their heads out of tree cavities created by Red Bellied Woodpeckers in a wooded lot across the street. I bought materials and built this trap on Monday of last week. I’ve only been home and able to put it out a couple of the days since then, but I’ve caught 10 starlings already. Judging by the overall starling activity and vocalizations I observe in the mornings, I’m already making a dent in the population. Thank you so much for these plans!

[@BackyardBirdsUS]

That's phenomenal. I'm very proud of you. The woodpeckers thank you. I just caught three. one was squawking so loud it scared my cat.

[@galinswigart]

@@BackyardBirdsUS Make that 18 in a week and a half!

[@Javaman92]

I made one of these today! Tomorrow I will go get some bait for it.

[@BackyardBirdsUS]

This is very good news. I'm excited for you.

[@BKincaid]

I have just spent the last 2 days watching your stuff! Really wish I had found you a few months ago so I could have better "attacked" my starling problem this year.... We removed all our bird food because we had a population of about 100 to 120 starlings last year that absolutely DECIMATED our bird feeders. I would put out 10 to 15 pounds of food across all our feeders and they would eat it in a single day... So we just gave up in a hope they would move on. Had I found your video I would have been catching them ALL winter and maybe had a better spring showing right now. Time to buy some wire and make some traps!!! THANK YOU!!!! Our Local Fox, Opossums & Racoons will be very happy with the random starling snacks I hope to be leaving them.

[@BackyardBirdsUS]

I hear you but i went decades not knowing I could remedy the problem. Now you will be prepared. It's disgusting how many there are. But you can make a difference and it really helps. They are so darned aggressive.

[@johnross6314]

What about invasive to USA British house sparrows? In some ways they are worse. They are small enough that they are able to go into the small bird accessible, anti sparrow anti squirrel feeders. They also kill Blue Bird and finch young. Any ideas? Last year we pulled down all our feeders once a hoard of house sparrows discovered us. We have large hawks which do not prey on house sparrows. One day last year, observed a smaller hawk chasing one. Although USA does not have the natural British sparrow hawk as a predictor. The house sparrow population are out of control.

[@BackyardBirdsUS]

Check out my video on using an elevator trap. It seems to work better for house sparrows. But truth be told i caught 5 house sparrows in this trap.

[@jungleking007Channel]

I built one similar that has inlets on both sides. Can normally trap 2-5 Starlings, and a house sparrow or two if I'm lucky a day in the late spring early summer days using just bread. Might have to try the suet cake idea!

[@BackyardBirdsUS]

Interesting. They love suet off it's the peanut kind. Let me know if you have luck.

[@jungleking007Channel]

@@BackyardBirdsUS will do! I was thinking of adding millet to mine when I make it for the house sparrows. They are easily attracted to it in my area.

[@IowaKim]

Wow, great instructions! I am going to get on this. Love the voice over way of instructions, quick and thorough.

[@BackyardBirdsUS]

Thank you so much. It took me a long time to make this video because sometimes I wasn't recording when I made the cuts I would have to redo it. But in the end I hope this is helpful to many people.

[@elliotweaver5805]

Could you put a clear, lightweight plastic at the end of the tunnel that would lift up and let them in and close behind them. Maybe a clear welding lens(2” x 4”) hinged. Are they persistent enough to push through something like this? Just a thought to keep them from escaping once captured

[@BackyardBirdsUS]

I don't think they would enter. They are too smart. I just watch and if i see some caught go get them.

[@H2ODiver_Down]

Will the 1" square wire keep English sparrows from escaping?

[@BackyardBirdsUS]

Yes it will. I've used the trap on them as well. Seems to work well for both species.

[@diagobenjamin6456]

Thanks ❤

[@IowaKim]

I've been binge watching your videos. A tip on holding birds (I used to raise a lot of birds) is to have their head between your pointer and middle finger with the other fingers grasping around (like a peace sign). This prevents the bird from escaping your grasp and allows you to clip wings, transport or check the bird without escape. This also is humane in that birds do not have a diaphragm to breath but breath by expanding their rib cage and you are less likely to squeeze their body.

[@BackyardBirdsUS]

Fantastic advice. I should do a video on that. I know everyone has birds escape and this is one reason. You are a genius.

[@MrFritz6940]

Proceed to throw trap full of starlings into campfire

[@herman58100]

Took a couple of days to do but got it. Put it out today, had three Catbirds in less than 15 minutes. It was late today, I'll set it out first thing tomorrow. Not sure the thickness of wire you used.The wire I used was heavy. It was .080". Hard to work with..

[@f4fake22]

Youre a hero my guy, the starlings are getting caught after i build this, tired of the bird crap all over my house, car, mailbox, patio. Thank you

[@BackyardBirdsUS]

Fantastic news. Fewer starlings is a good thing.

[@LoverDino]

There's no way they don't just crawl back out right?

[@BackyardBirdsUS]

Actually they sometimes do dinner their way out but generally not. I try to remove them the second they get caught to minimize escapes.

[@EmoOleson]

Do you have a text copy of this How To? I'd like to print it to have alongside as I make the trap.

[@esuraski]

A great instructional video all around. I watched it and had my first one done in about 2 hours. Can’t wait to put it to some good use.

[@BackyardBirdsUS]

Amazing. I would think it would take longer. Maybe the instructions were good. This is 15 years of learning. Hope it helps.

[@nl4064]

eat them and its a win win

[@kaburleson]

Thanks!

[@kaburleson]

Thanks!

[@TheRealCoryKent]

Will this trap catch other birds, such as nuthatches, chickadees, or finches, or my flickers or woodpeckers that also come to my feeder? I'm really excited about this.

[@Stevelemontrudy]

It might, but since it's a live trap you can just let them out. I think the poster of this video recommends only using your starling trap when you can keep a close eye on it.

[@jp-kc8ms]

I just made one of these traps. What do I do if I can't monitor it during the day?

[@Stevelemontrudy]

You should plug the entrance holes. Great question.

[@davea5570]

Hi Jeff. I have a big starling & grackle bird problems in my yard, ruining it for my songbirds. I built one of your traps, applied the suet per your suggestion, there are 6 or 7 deceased starlings in the trap after a few hours. It works as advertised, thanks for sharing 😊

[@BackyardBirdsUS]

Good to hear. I'm so glad it worked for you.

[@cutlass80ful]

This trap is no joke. Built it as described, and baited with mealworms, peanuts or suet it awesome in trapping starlings

[@BackyardBirdsUS]

Glad you hear it's working. I love it.

[@darrintaylor6158]

I found this helpful and informative. I'll be using it as my guide to building one soon

[@BackyardBirdsUS]

Glad to hear. It's a great trap and works for house sparrows too.

[@jega9784]

Thank you so much

[@jega9784]

Heading out to find the wire

[@malnatt1715]

Grazie,propio quello che stavo cercando,ottimo lavoro domani mi procuro i materiali così questa primavera dichiarerò guerra agli storni 👍😉

[@BackyardBirdsUS]

Great news. Best to you.

[@BeckyHolloway-yw4gm]

What dimensions for sparrow

[@BackyardBirdsUS]

I used this trap as is and caught a bunch of house sparrows.

[@rajnishsingh1094]

Good video 📹 👍 👌

[@BackyardBirdsUS]

Thank you. Should help thin their numbers.

[@shereetwiddy3295]

I will try it.

[@BackyardBirdsUS]

I hope you are successful