The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has reported a decline in the number of starlings visiting gardens in the UK. The organization’s Big Garden Birdwatch, conducted at the end of January, revealed the lowest starling population count since the survey’s inception in 1979. While starlings are a common sight in gardens, they are also among the fastest-disappearing bird species in the UK, experiencing a significant decrease in numbers since the 1960s. These birds are known for their impressive winter aerial displays, characterized by large flocks or murmurations.
Beccy Speight, the chief executive of the RSPB, expressed concern over the recent findings, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts to support the preservation of starlings. To help protect starlings and other garden wildlife, the RSPB recommends simple actions such as refraining from pesticide use and installing nest boxes. Speight underscored the need for broader collaboration among individuals, governments, and businesses to address the ongoing threats to the natural world.
This year’s Big Garden Birdwatch saw nearly 600,000 participants across the UK observing and counting over nine million birds within an hour in their local gardens or parks. Prior to the year 2000, starlings were consistently the most populous species recorded in the survey. However, in the latest results, starlings fell to fourth place, behind the tree sparrow, blue tit, and wood pigeon, while the blackbird maintained its fifth-place ranking.
The decline in starling populations highlighted by the survey aligns with long-term studies that have also indicated a troubling trend for these birds in the UK. Classified as a red-listed species, starlings are considered a conservation priority due to their dwindling numbers. Factors contributing to their decline may include a reduction in grassland and insect food sources resulting from intensive farming practices, as well as a decrease in suitable nesting sites due to modern development
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