I always imagined they came from further north -such as Scandinavia. But apparently they can come from any European country which has a harsher winter than the UK. That can include Russia. Usually Scandinavia and the Baltic. I never notice Starlings from about April onwards, and they start to arrive here and make their presence felt late Autumn. Usually October/November.
Farmers consider them a great nuisance. The other day I was talking to my neighbouring farmer, and he showed me a huge pile of cattle feed which had been thrown down from the edge of a silage 'clamp'. The winter feed is macerated corn (maize) as well as grass harvested the previous spring. The Starlings descend on it and can pull down massive quantities. I was quite amazed! The farmers construct nets over the edge of the clamp to stop them. He told me that if not stopped, they are capable of pulling down one third of the 'clamp' and that is a huge amount.
They have no shortage of food round here, but they like the sweet corn.
Farmers consider them a great nuisance. The other day I was talking to my neighbouring farmer, and he showed me a huge pile of cattle feed which had been thrown down from the edge of a silage 'clamp'. The winter feed is macerated corn (maize) as well as grass harvested the previous spring. The Starlings descend on it and can pull down massive quantities. I was quite amazed! The farmers construct nets over the edge of the clamp to stop them. He told me that if not stopped, they are capable of pulling down one third of the 'clamp' and that is a huge amount.
They have no shortage of food round here, but they like the sweet corn.
