Solution: Trapping

Although tedious, trapping allows for the humane euthanization of starlings in moderate quantities. Trapping requires some maintenance and may be viewed as a hassle, but is has much fewer drawbacks than some other control methods such as repelling, frightening, or excluding.

Decoy traps like the one seen in Figure 1 below are easy and cheap to construct and can trap multiple birds at a time.  Previously caught birds remain in the trap, attracting others, and expediting the process (Johnson et al. 2005). In addition, in harsh weather conditions, the starlings will be easily tricked into finding sanctuary in the traps (Schuster 2010). With a little time and effort, pest populations may decrease by a large margin.

Figure 1. A decoy trap will lure starlings in and allow for humane euthanizing and a decrease in population. (Johnson et al. 2005). 

Works Cited:

Johnson, R. J. & Glahn, J.F. (2005) European Starlings and Their Control. Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management. Cornell University, Clemson University, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, and Utah State University. (Date Accessed: May 11, 2013.) http://icwdm.org/handbook/birds/EuropeanStarlings.asp 

Schuster, J. (2010) European Starlings: Population Control Methods. Wild Wing. Wild Wing Company (Date Accessed: May 11, 2013.) http://www.wildwingco.com/starlings.html