Starlings as year-round hunting skills sharpeners!

While reading up about the causes of the extinction of Passenger Pigeons, one of the causes stated, was that they provided a challenging target, flying up to 60 mph. How about we turn this type of challenge into a better purpose with Starlings! They can fly at speeds of about 55 mph, and often travel in immense flocks, like the Pigeons used to. Hunters who might hunt Mourning Doves in their season should tatally try the challenge of the Starling, available year-round, as a great way to hone in their shotgun skills!

This photo, by wikipedia, is of a mass flock in England. They can get this big....and bigger, in th U.S. too!

As a quick side track, people from other countries could most prabably also participate in Starling Hunting, seeing the birds a pest most everywhere it appears!!

Missed big flock!

A giant flock of Starlings settled in the field in front of us, but when they finally flew a little into our yard, the first shot scared them off. After that, I attempted a few potshots at airborne birds, but to no avail. I'll be ready next time!! Other than those birds, the two wanted species have been keeping clear in the colder weather.
The cookie-making at the Burns' went well, and us boys got through about 1 and 1/2 rounds of Axis & Allies! We also sang a few christmas carols, and played some foosball.
Macroeconomics isn't so bad once you start getting into it.
You really need to listen to Baba Yetu at the bottom of this blog! It's The Lords Prayer in Swahili, sung by the Soweto Gospel Choir. Another version of the song can be found on Christopher Tin's CD, Calling All Dawns.
You really need to read "Hancock the Superb's" Short Story (blogs I follow section).

My Goal; Make it Yours!

So, in all this, what is the main purpose I'm trying to work towards? Rashly speaking, I would love to able to take Starlings and H. Sparrows and R. Doves out of where they have invaded, along with any other problematic species worldwide, but more realistically, I'm mainly focusing on ridding at least Missouri of our huge populations of these birds. In this way, these places will become a little closer to what God created them to be like in the beginning. In the long run, in the (God-willing, near) future, I would like to start a "club" of starling hunters like myself, and every month or so, I'll post the results of our gathered efforts with a grid showing the numbers of birds killed, and by whom they were eliminated. 

Success!!

Phew!! I just squeezed pass with a score of 54! That's my second to lowest score yet, (the lowest being for U.S. History II, with 53) but at least I passed and now have 24 college credits! Thanks to anyone who did pray for me (I know my family was), and I hope for his blessing on the next test in Macroeconomics (its seeming as overwhelming as it looks right now!). By the way, if you go to Mazzou's Merry Memories, you can find more about the ball I was talking about before.

Studying hard!

Wow! What a busy week!
I can assure you that I did not have any spare time for shooting Starlings in the morning these past few days, and my studies for Western Civ. II are coming to a climax. I'm supposed to be taking the CLEP tomorrow! Other than that we were also preparing for the annual CHEF Christmas Ball, which happened on the 11th, I had a dentist and optometrist appointment, and we are going to our friends, the Burns (the producers of Pendragon) this Friday with 2 other families to make cookies.
Pray for me (and my brain) tomorrow for my upcoming test!
SAM

What I use: Traps

Enyone can use traps to eradicate Starlings. I am currently using 3 types: a nestbox type (my own adaptation from a squirrel box trap), strategic use of mouse traps, primarily for House Sparrows, and a new invention, the "Electric Birdbath"!. Ordinary nest boxes can also serve as "traps", if stalked up on at night. I used to use a cage trap which was operated by a string from under the feeder to the vent hole in my window. This was quite effective, as you can catch as many birds as enter the cage!

Nest box type trap (for complete instructions, post or e-mail me)


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Bottom door to remove birds (I put a plastic bag around the opening, so the bird won,t escape)

  

Front view: door runners to keep it in line & stopper underneath (box trap)

Place mouse traps in strategical spots where only H. Sparrows go, like under a car in your drive way (shown)...

...or on the side of the hous, if you havn't noticed other birdsd come this close.



"The Electric Birdbath" (the bird sits on the ring, drinks out of the bowl, I plug it in, and, Bang!, no more bad bird! (not tried out yet, not right season. Don,t ever leave this one plugged in!!)



Sneak up to a birdhouse like this American Festral box at night, to catch Starlings by surprise!

Use this simple sharpened nail to kill unwanted birds, if you don't have an airsoft or BB gun.



Give a quick jab in the circled are, where the lungs are situated. (birds live suffer lomger without their heads than without their lungs!) 



 





What I use: Weapons

 Among the many different options of weapons for Starling control, the air rifle is a must! I now have a Gamo Bigcat 1200. This company, Gamo, is my favorite as they really seem committed to their cause. For example, they test every batch of airgun pellets produced by firing a random selection about 20-30 yds. away. If the grouping is outside of  a 1 3/4 clump, the whole batch is remelted. Also find how they put air rifles to the test and see some amazing airgun hunts at Gamo USA. Its hard to beleive how a .177 cal. pellet can  take down a wild boar in a single shot! 


 


Here are my weapons!

              You can see that the Gamo has no sights. Try to get one that does, like the Gamo Whisper etc.

Gamo Big Cat fitted with Burris 3-7 X 50 air rifle scope. (Big Cat uses 177. cal. pellets, and shoots at 1000 fps. with ordinary pellets, and 1200 with PBA pellets, which are exclusive from Gamo)



View through the scope



Crossman Pellets: Although Crossman is a good make, I have noticed less accuracy. Go with Gamo!



Umarex Steel Storm 420, uses 177. caliber BB's, shooting them at 430 fps.

The Steel Storm has a 30 round magazine (shown), and a 300 round resevoir! 



Standard sights on the Steel Storm

  
    I also sometimes use a slingshot, shown under the Steel Storm in the big photo, but I don't get to use it often, because of the others weapons superior power and accuracy. I use approximately marble sized rocks.







 

Finally back!
I just passed my CLEP test  on Western Civilization I a few days ago with my highest score, 68! (score = not based on %, and Max. score is 80). Yesterday, I took down another Starling, and may have wounded three others, with the help of my brother, Alexandre.