Fewer starlings are appearing in UK gardens, according to the latest results from the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch. The annual survey, which took place during the last weekend of January, recorded the lowest number of starlings since the initiative began in 1979.

Though once a common garden visitor, the starling is now one of the UK’s fastest-declining bird species. Known for their dazzling winter murmurations—synchronized aerial displays in large flocks—their numbers have dropped dramatically since the 1960s.

Beccy Speight, RSPB’s chief executive, said the results are cause for concern but stressed that “we can all do our bit to support these threatened birds.” Emma Marsh, the charity’s executive director, called the starling “one of our most charismatic birds,” and said it’s a “real shame” to see their decline.

Simple garden actions can make a difference. Avoiding pesticides helps preserve insects that starlings feed on, while having a mix of grass lengths allows birds to forage while spotting predators. Natural lawns with clover and dandelions encourage more invertebrates, and nest boxes can provide crucial shelter.

Ms Speight added: “While our homes and gardens often provide the perfect place for individual people to help, we also urgently need governments and businesses to join us in the wider fight to restore our natural world.”

This year, nearly 600,000 people across the UK took part in the Birdwatch, counting more than nine million birds in just one hour. Once the most frequently spotted species in the survey, the starling has now dropped from third to fourth place, behind the house sparrow, blue tit, and wood pigeon. The blackbird remained in fifth.

The Big Garden Birdwatch offers a vital snapshot of the health of the UK’s bird populations, and its findings on starlings reflect broader trends seen in long-term studies. The starling is now red-listed in the UK, meaning it is of high conservation concern. Between 1970 and 2022, the UK’s breeding population of starlings fell by a staggering 82%.

While the exact causes of their decline are still unclear, habitat loss from intensive farming—leading to fewer grasslands and insects—and reduced nesting sites due to modern development are believed to be contributing factors.

 

 

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