Questions and Answers

In the March newsletter Rosemary Harvey reported that she had noticed a change in the distribution of Starlings in the locality of her Fakenham Road home in Taverham. She said Starlings “abounded” in her garden in the late 1960s and 70s but that now she cannot remember the last time she saw a Starling in her garden although they are a common sight across the Fakenham Road in Thorpe Marriot. Rosemary asked if this change could be explained?Rosemary’s observations probably reflect the fact that the Starling population has fallen throughout Europe especially since the 1970s. A large proportion of our wintering birds come from Finland where dairy farms have largely disappeared resulting in the loss of grazing pastures. This is the main foraging habitat of the Starling as it provides high densities of leatherjackets its main breeding season food item. This has resulted in a reduced breeding success and a subsequent marked reduction in the Finnish Starling population. Other factors such as the change from spring sown to autumn sown cereals or subtle climatic changes might also be affecting Starling populations in some regions.

It was thought that members of the WVBS might like to have a slot in the Newsletter for asking and answering questions. To set the ball rolling, our first question is about Starlings, and comes from a beginner.

In Taverham in the late 1960’s and 1970’s starlings abounded in our garden They would sit on the neighbour’s roof in the morning and clack their beaks exuberantly. But now I cannot remember the last time I saw a starling in the garden although, across the Fakenham Road in Thorpe Marriott, starlings are a common sight. At certain times of year I see them lined up equidistantly on the the roof ridges of the houses.