Starling populations in Brighton fell after weedkiller use restarted. Is there a link?
Steve Geliot tracks the starling population. He remembers seeing 150,000 starlings in 1981. Geliot started counting birds in 2022, and starling numbers dropped to about 8,000.
Last year, numbers rose to almost 19,000, after glyphosate use was paused. This year, counts are just over 9,000, including one count that found a low of 4,419 birds. Geliot started a petition in 2022 that asked for a ban on pesticides; the petition had 110,000 signatures.
The council stopped glyphosate on pavements before, but critics said streets became hazardous. The council then restarted weedkiller use, employing a “controlled droplet” method. Geliot worries about another year of glyphosate and is concerned about its impact on starlings, which might be small, or quite large.
He thinks it adds pressure during breeding season. Geliot urges insect-friendly gardening, suggesting wildflowers, nest boxes, and less light, and mentions increasing artificial sports pitches, which limit green spaces for birds and insects. Despite lower numbers, the starlings are inspiring, and he hopes they recover with everyone’s help.
Tim Rowkins says starlings are a source of pride. The council aims to protect local wildlife, requiring bee-bricks in new buildings and mandating swift-boxes. Planning rules prioritize nature, so developments must improve biodiversity, and they manage nature on the downland estate.
The estate covers 44% of the city. They are developing a nature strategy, and glyphosate is applied in a targeted way to minimize the amount that they use, focusing on troublesome weed growth only while offering an opt-out program for residents where glyphosate will not be used on 72 roads.
Many councils still use glyphosate weedkiller. The council must keep pavements clear for everyone but recognizes public concerns about glyphosate.