A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall The Critter Corner birds in yard, making nest in grill

We had a flock of dark birds move in one day and two stayed and have been building a nest in our gas grill. We have used the grill twice and they have put the stuff back in. I am not sure what these birds are but I want to find out if there is a way to give them an alternative nest.
They are dark birds, male black, female dark brown; the size of a robin and have a skinny beak. So I looked at pictures of grackles and starlings because I can never keep them straight but neither look right because they have fatter beaks. So if anyone can help identify them that would be great.

I would say Starlings are the most likely suspects. Starlings' feathers and bills change colors with the seasons, and they are the only "Black" birds that I know of that WOULD nest in a grill. See if you can get some pictures. That will cinch and ID for me.

Yup they are starlings. They put a ton of stuff in the grill now! you wouldn't believe it! I feel bad about all their work making a nest and me destroying it so I put their nesting stuff in a moss basket but I hear they won't nest in there. I wish I could help them even though they are just starlings.

Starlings are NOT native to the U.S. and have single-handedly destrpyed almost all the Eastern bluebirds in North America. They are NOT protected by law in the U.S., so I say let them fend for themselves, and drive them out of our yards.