Starlings Declining in England

Posted by Rosemary Drisdelle Aug 21, 2007

North Americans are used to seeing huge flocks of European Starlings (Sturnus vlgaris) doing acrobatics in the sky—their ability to swoop and turn together with marvelous precision can be breathtaking (watch a video on Bird Cinema). We shouldn’t really be seeing them however: they were introduced to North America in 1890 and have done so well here that they are one of our most common birds. In fact, they are often regarded as pests, especially when they nest in dryer vents or other cavities in houses, and when they compete with native birds, such as Northern Flickers, for nesting sites. That’s why it’s hard for North Americans to grasp the idea that these birds are now a species of high conservation concern in England.

Thirty years ago, there were three times as many Common Starlings in England as there are today. Common Starlings in the UK have apparently been having a hard time finding enough food—agricultural chemicals and intensive farming have reduced populations of the insects that Common Starlings eat. Nesting sites are scarce and roaming cats take many young birds during the nesting season.

Efforts are being made to reverse the decline of the Common Starling in England, but we don’t have to worry about the species in a worldwide sense. The global population is stable. If the UK population drops too low, we can always send some from North America back to where their ancestors came from!

Cats are a problem for birds in many places:

Feral Cats Kill Birds

Cats, Birds, and Ascension Island

Read about another “pest” bird.

Quelea quelea - African Pest Bird