Nature Notes – Kibworth Starlings
Inspired by Winter Watch and Countryfile, many people added ‘Video a Starling Murmuration’ to their bucket list. Recently, the early evening spectacular in the centre of Kibworth has given much pleasure. However, spare a thought for those in the immediate area. They have not only ‘got the t-shirt’ but also the patio, car and garden covered in starling poo. Not to mention the noise!
I have been asked lots of questions, too many to attempt to answer all of them. However, here are a few what, when, why and how answers.
Across the UK, breeding starling numbers are declining. However large numbers visit us each winter from the north and east, some travelling over 2,500 kilometers to get here. Breeding success, weather patterns, and food availability en-route, are all factors that affect the number arriving each year.
Communal roosting is not uncommon. Wildfowl, gulls, waders, crows and some raptors all roost communally as do birds as small as wrens and long-tailed tits. Inland, starlings are the only birds that fly around spectacularly in an enormous flock before dropping into the roost (murmuration). The benefits of roosting together are; reduced risk of predation, warmth from being packed close together, and potentially finding good feeding areas next day by following other groups as they leave the roost site.
Starling Flocks
How do the flocks move, seemingly in unison, without having massive collisions? In the same way that we walk in a crowded street or drive on a very busy road, these birds seem capable of being aware of their surroundings, and keep a small but safe distance from their immediate ‘neighbours’, especially the bird in front of them and those on either side. If a leading bird changes direction, others immediately follow.
Very large flocks in built-up areas are uncommon. Reed beds, woodlands and man-made structures are usually used. The pier at Aberystwyth is one site that is used annually.
The largest roost recorded in Leicestershire was at Abbey Park each winter from 1978 to 1986/7. In 1984 well over 500,000 birds roosted, possibly as many as a million. Birds were noted entering the area from all directions each evening. Sheepthorn’s Spinney, between Tur Langton and Kibworth, was an annual roost site for at least 20 years to 1955. As recently as 2022, a flock of hundreds of thousands was at Melton Mowbray for at least 3 nights in early March, but roosts in built-up areas are not regular. This year there has been a large roost in the Syston/Rearsby area, in addition to the Kibworth flock.
David Scott
Readers will be familiar with the appearance of adult starlings. This month’s picture is of a juvenile starling. Juveniles will be around from May onwards.
