HOW CAN I DETER STARLINGS?

QI have a dedicated mealworm feeder which can be adjusted to keep out large birds. However, even though I set it for Blue Tits etc, I find it can be emptied in seconds when a flock of Starlings descends – they seem able to reach in with their long beaks. Can you suggest a way of feeding mealworms for small birds that will keep out the Starlings? Ken Hutchinson

AStarlings can intimidate smaller birds while greedily taking everything they can get their beaks into. They are also very intelligent, and quite capable of figuring out ways to get round many anti-starling measures. The only suggestion we can make is to get an enclosed mealworm feeder with a mesh size that allows smaller birds to enter while physically barring Starlings. If this does work, remember to put some mealworms out for the Starlings as well; although still relatively common, Starling numbers have declined worryingly in recent years.