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1009 days ago

As a Christchurch street is blighted by starlings, how do you get rid of the winged pests?

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

From reporter Lee Kenny:
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For the Christchurch residents living in a street blighted by bird poo starlings are a menace – but how do you deal with the flying pests?

According to New Zealand Birds Online, the common starling was introduced for insect control, but they are now found across Aotearoa and the Subantarctic Islands.

They nest in hollow trees, under house eaves and even in letter boxes. As well as creating a mess, they eat crops and make a noise, which some people find annoying.

There are a range of methods to discourage starlings, from the cheap to the costly.

Westport-based Maintrac Group sells a range of equipment for dealing with pests, like starlings.

These include the high-tech Bird-X, a $795 device that uses red and green laser beams to deter birds.

Deploying bird spikes is among the least expensive options. The stainless steel spikes can be adhered to surfaces, preventing birds from landing and therefore pooping on property below.

“A successful way to deter starlings is to prevent them from landing,” Maintrac Group's website says.

“Starlings need a lot of energy just to fly, so if they are prevented from landing near a food source they soon use up what energy they do have, and have to move off to other areas to feed. If one goes, they all go.”

Shiny holographic tape can also be applied to surfaces to discourage the birds from settling, while an artificial osprey hawk does a similar job.

Another option is a Carousel Gas Gun, which makes a loud bang and scares unwanted birds away.

The noise will be familiar to anyone who has spent time in the countryside, but the intermittent blasts might not be suitable for suburbia.

A less noisy option might be an ultrasonic bird and animal repellent, which emits a high-frequency sound to scare away flying pests.

Despite the thousands of starlings that descend on Dudley St, Richmond, each summer, one pest expert said they are not a common problem in Christchurch.

“The bird-work we do is usually involving pigeons,” Gary Hendrikse, director of Elite Pest Control, said.

“I don't think I've ever had a call to get rid of starlings.

“The only other nuisance birds are ones that nest in people's ceilings, that's often to do with preventing access.”

Other methods for discouraging starlings include removing nests and food sources, and patching up holes to areas that could be used as a nesting site.

More messages from your neighbours
3 days ago

Poll: How should Guy Fawkes be celebrated?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

While it is a fun occasion, fireworks on Guy Fawkes Night has caused much conflict over the years, upsetting our pets and disrupting the sleep of neighbours.

How should we celebrate Guy Fawkes Night? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.

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How should Guy Fawkes be celebrated?
  • 28.9% With a city-wide public fireworks display
    28.9% Complete
  • 19.5% Small fireworks displays in each community
    19.5% Complete
  • 7.6% Keep it as is
    7.6% Complete
  • 33% We shouldn't celebrate it!
    33% Complete
  • 10.6% Anything but fireworks
    10.6% Complete
  • 0.4% Other - I'll share below
    0.4% Complete
2536 votes
2 hours ago

Addictive Eaters Anonymous

The Team from Addictive Eaters Anonymous - Christchurch

I was spiralling out of control

I don't have many memories from my childhood, but the memories I do have relate to food - picnics with bacon and egg pie, my mother’s home cooking, Sunday bread. I was never much of a sweet tooth, but instead I preferred savouries, pastries, breads and the like. I grew up on a farm and food was plentiful and was never restricted and I lived a pretty healthy, active lifestyle.

Once I hit my teenage years, however, I remember starting to get worried about my weight. (I'll just mention here that I don't think I have ever been overweight and I certainly wasn't overweight as a teenager).

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9 hours ago

Gang presence this weekend

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

International members of the Mongols MC are expected in Canterbury for an event marking five years since the gang established itself in New Zealand.

What you need to know:
-The gang has three chapters in the South Island. Wainoni-based Ōtautahi East, Ashburton-based Mid-South and SH1, Burnham.
- Police say they will have ‘considerable resource’ in the region during the event from November 7-10.
- Police in Canterbury have planned a major operation around the event - thought to coincide with a national meeting - from November 7 to 10, and have drafted in staff from two other districts to help.
- Mongols members from across the country are expected to meet at the gang’s original South Island headquarters - a fortified property on SH1, Burnham, on the outskirts of Christchurch.
- Canterbury district commander Superintendent Tony Hill says:
“We’re prepared for multiple contingencies. We will be monitoring their behaviour very closely over the period, if they’re not behaving appropriately then we will be taking appropriate action quite swiftly.”

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