Brighton Welcomes Back Its Dazzling Starlings
Brighton & Hove celebrated the return of the iconic starlings at a lively event on 7 October at Waterhall. The ‘Welcome Back’ bash, organised by the #SaveOurStarlings campaign, heralds the arrival of thousands of migrant starlings joining the local flocks for the winter spectacle.
Free Nest Boxes to Boost Starling Numbers
The campaign is handing out 100 starling nest boxes to schools, community groups, and local organisations in prime starling hotspots. This move aims to help the birds breed and thrive amidst declining numbers.
Starling murmurations – those incredible swooping, swirling patterns across Brighton’s skies – have become a beloved winter sight but are under threat. Starling populations have plunged by a shocking 87% over the past 30-40 years in the UK and Brighton.
That plunging tally now puts the starling on the UK’s ‘red list’ of birds at high risk of extinction.
City Leaders Pledge Bold Action to Save Wildlife
Council leader Phélim Mac Cafferty opened the event, warning the dazzling aerial displays hide a grim truth. “The sight of murmurations inspires us all but masks their plummeting numbers,” he said. “We must act boldly to preserve our city’s precious biodiversity.”
Brighton has committed £7.8 million via its Carbon Neutral Fund to biodiversity projects. Efforts include protecting insect life, creating foraging zones, and boosting nesting sites – key to helping starlings bounce back.
Nature Reserves and Community Efforts Lead the Way
Waterhall, once a golf course, now thrives as a nature reserve managed by council rangers. Surveys there found more than 650 invertebrate species, including 40 bee types and 25 butterflies.
Lead councillor for biodiversity Jamie Lloyd said, “It’s inspiring to see the community rally behind wildlife. Nest boxes and wildflower meadows aren’t just helping nature – they’re boosting mental health too, especially on World Mental Health Day.”
The starling nest box initiative has strong support from Brighton Palace Pier, The Living Coast, and Brighton & Hove Environmental Education.
