This winter we need your help to identify winter starling sites. Starling numbers have fallen by 66% in Britain since the mid-1970s, and starlings are now on the red list as a bird of high conservation concern. Reasons for this decline include changes in farming practices, changes in grassland management, loss of invertebrate food through the use of pesticides, and fewer nesting sites in urban areas owing to household improvements.

In order to help these birds, we need to find out more information on the numbers and locations of groups of starlings in Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland.

In the wintertime, both resident and immigrant starlings come together to form large roosts, often numbering thousands of birds. These roosts can be in a variety of places including buildings, trees or reed beds, and will also occur within urban areas including villages, towns and cities. At the end of the day, as the starlings return to their roost, they can often be seen darkening the skies as they flock before settling down for the night, this is one of nature's greatest spectacles.

We would like to gather information where groups of ten or more starlings are roosting and flocking. Please keep a look out in the winter sky for large groups of starlings. The information you send will allow us to start to develop a plan to help conserve the starling across Durham.

Please use the survey form to tell us if you have seen a group of ten or more starlings.

SURVEY FORM

Postcard survey forms are also available from Durham Wildlife Trust Visitor Centres, and local libraries.