Starling murmurations 'put town on map'

Murmurations of starlings, watched by crowds on a shopping centre car park roof, have put a Worcestershire town "on the map", people in the area say.

Over the last few months, thousands of the birds have gathered at dusk above their roost site near the Kingfisher shopping centre in Redditch.

But the starlings are coming towards the end of their time in the town for another year: the season for murmurations is November to early March.

One Redditch woman, Wendy Dunn, said they would bring people to the town, "because Redditch is dying I personally think".

She stated: "You're looking upwards potentially (rather) than looking downwards at some of the grot we've got.

"I think it's absolutely beautiful to watch and it is mesmerising."

However, Ms Dunn admitted vehicles "had been pooed on".

She added: "Luckily I don't have to wash them, but at the end of the day they're birds, they've got to poo somewhere. So I'm very lucky I've not been pooed on."

The local resident also said: "I'd just like to know how they don't bang into each other. So they've got to have some sort of leadership."

Starlings are in the red category on the RSPB's conservation status which means their population is in decline.

A murmuration is the name for a flying flock of starlings and as dusk arrives, the starlings set off for their communal roost, the Wildlife Trusts stated.

Richard Showell, who has gone to the Kingfisher Shopping Centre car park roof, said: "I think when you're on the ground floor, you don't get such a good view.

"You're almost eye level with the starlings and it's very close to their roosting site."

Mr Showell said the world could be "a very negative place, but this is such a positive thing to see".

He stated: "Any natural attraction is a good attraction. I think it's put Redditch on the map."

Julie Showell said: "The other evening there (were) a few cars here and it was a bit of a duller, rainier evening.

"But still people are getting attracted and seeing the view."

Some people I spoke to described the town centre as "dull".

Rabnwaz Mohammed, from Redditch, said: "You do get obviously negative aspects in every community.

"It's just nice to see the flock of birds in the town.. so it kinds of adds to it.

"When people talk about Redditch, they'll talk about seeing starlings."

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