Jouke F. Altenburg (2025) A local Starling Sturnus vulgaris paradise in jeopardy?. LIMOSA 98 (3): 127-135.

The Starling is a common breeding bird in the Netherlands, with a large variation in local breeding densities. The ‘Year of the Starling’ (2014) was the reason to study the breeding bird population in my residential area (4.2 ha) in the municipality of Culemborg. The method of detecting occupied breeding locations, based on the sound of begging young and observations of food provisioning adults, proved to be effective. In 2015 and 2016 densities in the research area were high: about 20 occupied nests per hectare. The Starlings showed a strong preference for a specific breeding location: a space behind the fascia board, which was accessible via the corner tiles of a house. In the subsequent eight years the research was continued. The number of breeding pairs declined from 2017 onwards, although densities remained relatively high with ca. 10 occupied nests per hectare. The probability of finding a breeding location differed significantly between years, from 30.5% (± 2.9%SE) in 2024 (minimum) to 68.2% (± 5.3%SE) in 2023 (maximum), with an average of 48.4% (± 1.2%SE) during the ten-year study period. This leads to the recommendation to conduct at least three surveys during the nestling stage in urban areas with a high density of breeding Starlings. In 2015-2023, the corner tiles formed the preferred breeding location (87% of the nests). This preference declined to 64% in 2024, presumably to avoid possible predation by Magpies Pica pica and Western Jackdaws Coloeus monedula. The national populations of both species showed a positive trend in urban areas within this timeframe. Future surveys and observations are needed to support this hypothesis.

[pdf only for members] [dutch summary]