By Anna Burdett

Last updated at 10:48, Saturday, 21 July 2012

Mystery surrounds the disappearance of starlings from Cumbrian gardens and farmland.

Starlings over Carlisle

The number of starlings in the county has dropped by 29 per cent in the past two decades, prompting the RSPB to launch a nationwide research project into the decline.

Cumbria is not the worst affected county.

Oxfordshire was worst hit with a drop of 80 per cent.

Starlings are most admired for their magical flying formations known as murmurations.

Two particularly stunning displays have been seen annually in recent years at Botcherby in Carlisle and near Gretna.

It is believed that 40 million starlings have disappeared from the EU since 1980.

In 2002 the starling was added to the UK ‘red list’ of the Birds of Conservation Concern, because its population had halved during the previous three decades.

There have been several theories put forward to explain the decline. In parts of Europe, suggestions include the loss of grassland through conversion to forestry land and the growing of crops. But these changes haven’t affected the UK in the same way, so the reasons for the rapid decline here are a mystery.

The project will focus on Somerset and Gloucestershire where RSPB researchers will work with farmers to examine whether there is sufficient food and nesting sites for starlings in livestock areas.

Starlings feed by probing lawns and pastures with their longish bills, looking for soil invertebrates, including leatherjackets.

Martin Harper, the RSPB’s conservation director said: “We don’t know the reasons for the starling’s decline, but we hope that our research will yield the answers to ensure this bird has a secure future.

“Understanding exactly what is causing these declines will allow us to develop practical and cost-effective solutions for land managers and farmers."

First published at 10:49, Saturday, 21 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk