It's often billed as the greatest daily movement of animals anywhere in Europe, but the annual starling murmurations – which have just started in the Somerset Levels – could be seen as vast flying banners advertising the bird's demise.
That is a claim being made by the RSPB, which says that for every three birds today, there would have been 10 just 30 years ago. The charity owns and manages reserves like Shapwick Heath where incoming European starlings roost during winter.
After photographer Richard Austin took these dramatic shots this week, the RSPB's Graham Madge said: "Starlings have undergone a huge population decline in recent years and we are doing research to find out why…
"Starlings are specially adapted to feed on grass," he explained. "They have a special adaptation on their beaks – which are almost like a mechanical device helping them to break open the ground for leatherjackets and beetle larvae.
"We suspect that with 'improvement' of a lot of pasture land there are fewer areas for these birds to feed.
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