Wildlife

Starling Welfare: Murmurations and Declining Populations

Starlings form spectacular winter murmurations but are experiencing a severe long-term population decline. Loss of grassland invertebrate prey and breeding opportunities are the primary causes.

Key Facts

UK starling breeding population has declined by 66% since 1970
Starlings probe soil for invertebrates — primarily leatherjackets (crane fly larvae) and earthworms
Loss of permanent grassland and soil compaction reduces invertebrate availability
They nest in cavities in buildings and trees — old buildings with accessible eaves are particularly important
Winter murmurations can contain 500,000-1 million birds — mostly northern European migrants

Welfare Considerations

Starling welfare is closely linked to access to soft, invertebrate-rich grassland soils. In hard frozen conditions or drought, probe-feeding becomes impossible and birds must find alternative food sources. Chicks in nests fed on invertebrates fledge successfully; those in areas with poor invertebrate availability may not. Loss of mixed farming and permanent pasture has systematically reduced the invertebrate base that starlings depend on.

What You Can Do

Provide starling nest boxes on buildings with cavity access
Maintain or restore grassland with diverse soil invertebrate communities
Support agri-environment schemes that maintain permanent pasture and mixed farming
Report starling murmuration locations to the RSPB Murmuration project
Avoid soil compaction and encourage earthworm-friendly gardening practices