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Starlings - reasons for decline not fully understood
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THE starling and the rook are both declining in Scotland, according to research published earlier this month.
A BTO-backed survey indicates that the number of breeding starlings in Scotland fell by 28 per cent between 1995 and 2017.
Across the UK, they have declined by 52 per cent.
Says the BTO: "When watching starling murmurations during the winter months it is easy to think that all is well with this familiar species, but a large percentage of the birds that make up these swirling flocks come from countries outside the UK, some from as far away as Russia.
"The reasons for this decline are not fully understood.
"With breeding success increasing across the UK, falling survival rates, especially of first-year birds, appear to explain the decline.
"The loss, or changing management of grasslands that provide starlings with invertebrate food could be the main ecological cause of these changes, but this needs further research."
The statement continues: "As we make our homes more energy- efficient, we tend to block the holes into roof spaces, reducing the number of nesting holes for species such as starlings.
"By providing a nest box with a 45mm entrance hole, the householder could relieve some of the struggles these birds are facing."
In Scotland, the rook, has also seen its numbers fall long-term, down by 37 per cent during the same period.
Loss of unimproved grassland might be a driving factor in this decline.
On the plus side, several species have seen their breeding populations doing well in Scotland.
These include the chiffchaff, great spotted woodpecker and blackcap - up by 780 per cent, 417 per cent and 451 per cent respectively between 1995 and 2017.
Across the UK, they have declined by 52 per cent.
Says the BTO: "When watching starling murmurations during the winter months it is easy to think that all is well with this familiar species, but a large percentage of the birds that make up these swirling flocks come from countries outside the UK, some from as far away as Russia.
"The reasons for this decline are not fully understood.
"With breeding success increasing across the UK, falling survival rates, especially of first-year birds, appear to explain the decline.
"The loss, or changing management of grasslands that provide starlings with invertebrate food could be the main ecological cause of these changes, but this needs further research."
The statement continues: "As we make our homes more energy- efficient, we tend to block the holes into roof spaces, reducing the number of nesting holes for species such as starlings.
"By providing a nest box with a 45mm entrance hole, the householder could relieve some of the struggles these birds are facing."
In Scotland, the rook, has also seen its numbers fall long-term, down by 37 per cent during the same period.
Loss of unimproved grassland might be a driving factor in this decline.
On the plus side, several species have seen their breeding populations doing well in Scotland.
These include the chiffchaff, great spotted woodpecker and blackcap - up by 780 per cent, 417 per cent and 451 per cent respectively between 1995 and 2017.
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