European starlings were first brought to America by Shakespeare enthusiasts in the 19th century and are now among the continent’s most numerous and invasive songbird. They are stocky black birds with short tails, triangular wings, and long, pointed bills. All the European starlings in North America descended from 100 birds nests in New York’s Central park in the early 1890’s. They were intentionally released by individuals who wanted America to have all the birds that Shakespeare ever mentioned. Eventually the population took off and today North America is home to more than 200 million European Starlings and are now basically considered a pest. European starlings in North Carolina take advantage of gable vents, dryer vents, bathroom fan vents, and eves of homes to make their nests. A mature female will usually lay 4-6 eggs in mid April and they eggs typically hatch around 12 days later. This can be a real nuisance and potentially be somewhat costly to a home owner. Some ways to prevent this invasive bird from making your home a nesting site is to install vent covers on exterior vents and make sure all entry points are closed off. Midstate Wildlife Solutions can help with a proactive plan to make sure your home is protected. Give us a call today for your home inspection.