this post was submitted on 03 Nov 2026

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Public's help needed to solve mystery of starling murmurations (www.bbc.co.uk)

submitted 1 week ago by GreyShuck@feddit.uk to c/nature@feddit.uk

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Starling murmurations are described as some of the "most amazing spectacles" to witness and they happen just before the birds go down to roost - but the reason why they do it is still uncertain.

A decade on from a study into the behaviour, researchers at University of Gloucestershire are repeating the research and inviting the public to take part in a new, nationwide study.

Lead researcher Prof Anne Goodenough said they were interested in seeing what had "changed in the past decade, particularly because starlings are a declining species".

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[–] BlueEther@no.lastname.nz 5 points 1 week ago

We have Starlings in New Zealand (introduced by the english), and I've never seen murmurations like I saw when I lived in the UK.

Maybe the populations in NZ are just not the same as in the UK to cause this?

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[–] wyldrstallyns@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 6 days ago (2 children)

By declining, they mean that the numerous places they were introduced to are now seeing their numbers dwindle, or specifically their original habitats?

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[–] GreyShuck@feddit.uk [S] 3 points 6 days ago (1 child)

This is talking about the UK - where they are a native, breeding species - but the population has declined by more than 60% over the last 30 years. More detail here.

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[–] wyldrstallyns@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 6 days ago

Thanks! I'm genuinely curious, so this is helpful!

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[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 0 points 6 days ago

Doesn't explain why murmurations start, but y'all might like reading about swarm theory. It's an elegant explanation of animal behavior covering ants and bees to wildebeest herds. There's a great Natural Geographic article on this I read in the magazine ages ago.

I expected great new tech from this understanding, not sure much has been done. In the article they talked about an tanker company whose computer chugged all night calculating the next day's routes. Drivers were annoyed to find themselves driving past delivery points to hit further places. Check it for yourselves!

https://blog.sapico.me/archived/the-genuis-of-swarms/

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