Squirrel proof feeders may offer some protection from Starlings, but they can still get their heads and beaks through. What are you feeding them? I've noticed that Starlings don't really go for seed, just fat balls, so a container of each should do the trick. You can find plenty of choices in the RSPB shop on the website (or at your local garden centre).
"Let loose the Kraken!"
Hi Stuart, thanks for the reply, I'm using no mess seed, peanuts and fat balls, they seem to like the seed a lot as they fight each other to get to it.
Feeder guardians may help but in our case it stops the squirrels but allows the great spotted wood pecker to reach in and help himself so maybe they are the same size but it might be a deterrant! How lucky you are to have sparrows and starlings we have none of either :(
Good lord, you've got omnivorous Starlings! Ours won't touch the seed, even if the fat balls run out. They've taken to sitting in the bush waiting for me to put them out now and get very peevy if I'm late!
I have starlings like you Michael, They eat anything and everything! I have to fill my feeders up twice a day, the starlings do seem to go slightly more for the fat balls i make, but if i haven't got round to putting more fat balls up by there next visit they will munch on the seeds as well, i must say i do love them, they are my 2nd fave (fave is now blue tit). I love there characters and the arguments n' squabbles they have with each other, even tho there is plenty food for them all :) I have just managed to aquire a couple of House sparrows which i'm delighted about, I have started hanging fat balls n' other feeders in harder to reach places for the sparrows, as my starlings aint keen to make there way into a bush or twiggy area while my sparrows are happy to hop around in the smaller spaces, but now winter has come, the smaller spaces are now open! But these bits are often more hidden so don't get as good a view of the sparrows, so i will have to see what i can come up with as well.