The starlings showed up...

[Mryan21]

but they wouldn't take the bait. They stayed in the tree above the catfood. I didn't shoot them cuz i want them to get used to it. Maybe tommorow they will land. Not sure why they won't take the bait, any ideas? Anyway, they have an hour to stay in the trees safely, if none land, i'm gonna start slinging some lead tommorow.

[longislandhunter]

Sometimes with a new feeding location they get a bit "antsy".  Give em some time to get comfortable and I'm sure they'll come in for a landing

Jeff

[jake]

yeah, i agree with Jeff, anyhting new to them there really nervous. maybe if you put some decoys or something that resembles a starling they will come down?

[Mryan21]

Wish i had some sort of decoy. Have you guys ever tryed using a dead starling as a decoy? Not sure if it would spook them or make them land.

[airiscool]

Several times now I've propped up a dead Starling to see if it would bring in more.  None have come back until long after the dead one was removed.

However, twice now Crows have taken the dead one. Squirrels and Sparrows have come and eaten bird seed all around it. And a week ago, I shot one Starling that was eating bird seed next to two Doves. The two Doves never spooked. Only one Dove moved aside as the shot Starling rolled past, then both went right back to eating. Seems other critters don't mind the dead Starlings ...  except other Starlings.

Since the flock is staying across the road and not even a few scouts are flying over, after a couple of hours I went out and moved the last  one I dropped this morning, off to the back of the property.

Paul.

[only1harry]

Remove all dead Starlings from the area and out of view, and they 'll fly in for a bite.  Other dead Starlings make them very nervous.  

They will also stay in the trees if there is activity around the neighborhood, or noises coming out of the house, etc. depending how close the cat food is from the house.  The farther from the house the faster they come in and are not as nervous, but you have to position it where you feel comfortable you can make a kill every time.

Sometimes they have already eaten and are just waiting to get hungry again.  I have seen them stay up in the trees for a whole hour and then descent and eat everything within a minute.  If they know you are watching, or they spot you, even from 35yds out, that will prevent them from coming down too.  Mine usually land at the very top of 2 of my trees in the back 35-40yds out.  They can stay there for 1-1.5hrs before coming down, especially if one of the shades is half way up (and I haven't noticed it) or when we are up in the morning getting my son ready for school.  Once things quiet down, and all the shades are down, windows closed, etc. they will one by one come down and go after the bait.  Concealment is #1 with Starlings and crows, but I am sure you know that.  You 've already gotten a bunch

[Mebits]

I think you have to wire them into a realistic pose.

Kinda like a Whacks museum, if you take my pun.

M

[Mryan21]

Thanks for the tips. I just started using bait to hunt starlings, so i used to only shoot them when i saw them landed  in trees. I have only shot a few with bait. I think i might have to try to conceal myself more because they are always nervous.