Super Size Starling Spectacle

Starlings are bright, noisy & gregarious birds, at one time a common sight in town or country.

On the ground their glossy winter-spotted, purple and green iridescent plumage, longish beak and bold, strutting gait are instantly recognisable.

Inquisitive and boisterous, with an appetite to match, they have traditionally been seen as a nuisance and something of a bully at garden bird feeders.

Historically, they were also considered a major pest when gathered in large flocks that caused significant impacts on crops or damage to buildings from droppings.

They are now fully protected by law as numbers have fallen dramatically in recent decades due to changes in agricultural practices, with greater intensification and use of chemical sprays reducing their principal insect food and over wintering shelter.

Agriculture change abroad has also contributed to their rapid decline, as winter numbers here are dramatically swollen in autumn by millions of migrants from as far a field as Russia and eastern Europe escaping severe sub-arctic conditions there.

Local resident breeding birds can often be seen in small flocks in the summer and make use of communal roosts. But when large numbers arrive from Europe, Scandinavia and Russia they move to larger winter roosts.

Large winter flocks can be seen at some sites in and around Wiltshire, usually towards dusk when they begin to gather to roost from daytime feeding grounds up to 20 miles around.

These assemblies can grow to enormous super size masses of many thousands of birds swirling and twisting together in amazing synchrony that give the appearance of rapid waves of movement and elaborate shifting forms against the fading night sky.

Recent sightings include large congregations at the Cotswold Water Park or a noisy flock of around 3,000 seen at the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust reserve, Clattinger Farm.

At the WSBRC we have also had reports of a big flock gathering nightly to roost in a large run of hedging near Pewsey to be met by a pair of Sparrowhawks patiently awaiting their regular evening meal.

Sightings of winter flocks in excess of 50,000 have been reported to us this year, and their have been reports of millions of individuals in previous years.

This flocking and displaying phenomenon is thought to be a survival strategy to confuse and distract predators and give protection through sheer weight of numbers before dropping quickly, or “rocketing”, into the safe cover of their night-time roosts.

Magnificent though this natural spectacle of large flocks is, it can rather overshadow the considerable interest of the individual bird itself.

Brightly marked, intelligent and inquisitive the starling is also a great songster and mimic. A wide range of clicks, whistles, warbles and mechanical sounds can emanate from this clever bird.

When in your garden, you may have pondered the source of a mobile phone nearby and the owner’s poor choice of ring tone. Or the distant siren of an emergency vehicle, a few bars of a popular TV program’s signature tune, other birds’ songs, car alarms or your postman’s familiar whistling may also sometimes be recognised.

Look no further than your colourful starling visitor as the varied source.

Although subsequently regarded as invasive pests, the starling was such an effective feeder on grubs and leather jackets in gardens and arable land that the Pilgrim Fathers took them to America with them.

In some countries they are such efficient predators of crop damaging pests that nest boxes are still provided on agricultural land to encourage them.

But although when in large numbers conflict with human interests can arise, with the species under pressure and overall numbers declining markedly perhaps it is time to excuse some less agreeable attributes.

Considering too their many favourable features now is a good time to support this once abundant species by allowing access to at least some of your winter garden bird food or even a nest site or two in the spring.

To find out more about starlings, their conservation status and habitat requirements click on these RSPB and BTO links.
www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/starling/index.asp
www.bto.org/gbw/Species/BIRDS_STARL.htm

Large winter flocks have been seen at:-

Cotswold Water Park - Waterhay car park or the hide along the path

Somerset Wildlife Trust reserve at Westhay Moor on the Somerset levels

Near the Slimbridge Wetland and Wildfowl Trust

For latest bird sightings try the Wiltshire Ornithological Society website