In a
report published earlier this month, Scottish Starling numbers have fallen by
almost a third, following an alarming trend that is mirrored across the UK.
According
to the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) report, the number of breeding Starlings in
Scotland has fallen by 28% between 1995 and 2017; across the UK they have
declined by 52%. When watching Starling murmurations during the winter months
it is easy to think that all is well with this familiar species, but a large
percentage of the birds that make up these swirling flocks come from countries
outside of the UK, some from as far away as Russia.
The
reasons for this decline aren’t fully understood. With breeding success
increasing across the UK, falling survival rates – especially of first-year
birds appear to explain the decline. The loss, or changing management of
grasslands that provide Starlings with invertebrate food could be the main
ecological cause of these changes, but this needs further research.
As we
make our homes more energy efficient we tend to block the holes into roof
spaces, reducing the number of nesting holes for species such as Starlings. By
providing a nest box with a 45mm entrance hole, you could relieve some of the
struggles these birds are facing.
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