Where Have All The Starlings Gone?

[sandyRoe]

I used to put fat blocks out for the birds.  Starlings would swoop down and make short work of them.

I haven't seen any for many months and the smaller birds can now take their time to dine.

Where did they go?

[barry1010]

Used to see the murmurations every night in the centre of Birmingham during the winter, the starlings disappeared years ago.

There are huge murmurations over parts of the Bristol channel and River Severn.  I don't know why yours have moved on - is there a new parrot population in your area, or red kites?

I haven't seen a sparrow in my garden for years but my narrowboat friend showed me a video of hundreds of them flocking alongside the canal.  

[douglas9401]

It's the thug magpies, always is.

[davebro3]

They've gone back home to the EU - will turn up again next winter.

Seem to be a lot of sparrow fledglings about here.

[barry1010]

Some starlings do migrate although the majority don't.

Maybe yours are tourist 'snowbirds'

[Tilly2]

They are all in my garden. What a racket!

[Chipchopper]

I think they, go where the food is,   and now only survive in small pockets rather than more widespread.

A lack of leather jackets (crane fly grubs) and caterpillars etc, has made an impact on them.

I blame it on pesticides

 

[Prudie]

Those that aren't in Tilly's are in my garden.

[ladybirder]

Very sad reading here for Brighton which has been famous for its murmurations.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/19/country-diary-for-the-starlings-this-is-a-tale-of-two-cities

[Old_Geezer]

They all had heart attacks from eating your fat blocks !

[sandyRoe]

I should have looked for vegan blocks, but sometimes when shopping I don't think.

[ladybirder]

OG & SR have either of you read my link?

[sandyRoe]

Ladybirder,

I have.  Lack of food seems to be the chief cause.

 

[Old_Geezer]

If they could develop a taste for slugs & snails then I might allow them to feast in my garden. Meanwhile they just ain't trying hard enough with my weeds.

[ladybirder]

I put sunflower hearts out for the birds in my garden.  They love them but it seems watching them today they prefer eating what is sprouting in my Victoria Plum Tree.  Guess I won't be having many delicious plums this autumn.

Luckily I didn't pave over all of it, it's about 50/50.  

[Gill1941]

I haven't seen any goldfinches in my garden for months. Used to have a lot of them.