Excitement is building for the incredible murmurations the city is treated to every year as the starlings begin to return home. The awe-inspiring displays see the birds dancing and whirling across the sky for protection as they prepare to settle down for the night. Starlings group together in these magnificent spectacles across Sussex but the murmuration between the Palace Pier and the West Pier in Brighton is arguably the most famous in the county.
Starlings in Brighton in 2020 (Image: Rose Jones) Autumn roosts tend to start to form in November, although they have been known to begin as early as September and October, and continue through to early spring. As the weeks go by, murmurations swell as more and more starlings join the roost. The best time to see their aerial displays is in the early evening, just before dusk.
A starling up close (Image: Keith Wells) Starlings have already been spotted gathering at the piers. Although starling numbers look vast within the murmurations, they are dwindling due to habitat loss and the use of pesticides. Read more: Alpaca visit brings joy to care home residents Starlings in Brighton in 2021 (Image: Claire Andrews) Sussex Wildlife Trust said the species has lost half its breeding population in the last 30 years.
The starling murmurations are a much-loved sight at in Brighton and attract huge numbers of people eager to catch a glimpse of the natural phenomenon as the sun sets. Brighton Pier Group chief executive Anne Ackord said the team.
