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Starlings disappearing from gardens, says RSPB

Helen Briggs
BBC environment correspondent•@hbriggs
Getty Images A picture of a single starling perched on a white object.Getty Images
Starlings are known for their noisy chatter and distinctive swirling flights known as murmurations

Fewer starlings are visiting UK gardens, according to the conservation charity, the RSPB.

It says its Big Garden Birdwatch, which took place over the last weekend in January, recorded the lowest number of starlings since the survey began in 1979.

Starlings are common garden visitors, but one of the UK's fastest disappearing birds, with a sharp population decline since the 1960s.

They are known for their spectacular winter acrobatics, flying in huge flocks or murmurations.

RSPB chief executive, Beccy Speight, said though this year's results are a reason for concern, "we can all do our bit to support these threatened birds".

Getty Images A house sparrow perches on a branch against a backdrop of green.Getty Images
The house sparrow topped the charts in this year's survey

Emma Marsh, RSPB's executive director, told Radio 4's Today programme that it is a "real shame" because the starling is "one of our most charismatic birds".

She said small actions in people's gardens can benefit starlings and other wildlife.

These include avoiding pesticides, which reduce the number of insects around that starlings eat; having a mix of short and long grass to help starlings watch out for predators; keeping lawns natural with dandelions and clovers so there would be more invertebrates; and putting up nest boxes.

Ms Speight added: "While our homes and gardens often provide the perfect place for individual people to help, we also urgently need governments and businesses to join us in the wider fight to restore our natural world."

Getty The picture shows a swirling cloud of birds set against a navy blue sky.Getty
Starlings are known for the swirling patterns they create in the sky

Almost 600,000 people across the UK took part in The Big Garden Birdwatch this year, counting more than nine million birds over the course of an hour in their garden or local park.

Prior to the year 2000, the starling was regularly the most numerous species recorded in the survey.

This year it dropped from third to fourth place behind the house sparrow, the blue tit and the wood pigeon.

The blackbird remained in fifth place.

Getty Two birds are perched on a bird feeder. A blue tit is on the left and a great tit on the right.Getty
Gardens are important habitats for wildlife

The survey gives a snapshot of trends in garden birds, with data on the starling mirroring findings from long-term studies.

Starlings are a red listed species in the UK, considered a high conservation concern due to their declining numbers.

The UK breeding population declined by 82% between 1970 and 2022.

There is not enough evidence to explain what is causing the declines, but one reason could be that there is less grassland and insect food than there used to be because of intensive farming.

Modern housing and development have also reduced the availability of suitable nesting sites.

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