AssetID: 54577364
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Stunning Footage Shows Peregrine Falcon Attack Murmuration Of Starlings Over Cheshire Housing Estate
Caption: Incredible footage of a bird of prey, believed to be a peregrine falcon, attempting to hunt a murmuration of thousands of starlings has been captured over a housing estate in Cheshire in February. The dramatic scenes unfolded above Upton, near Chester Zoo, and were filmed by Mayukh Chatterjee, Regional Field Programme Manager at Chester Zoo, and Alex Cunningham, the zoo’s Schools Engagement Officer. Both wildlife enthusiasts had gone looking for the spectacle and were rewarded with the rare sight. Starlings are known to gather in vast numbers for their mesmerising murmuration displays - but residents said it was the first time they had seen the phenomenon near their homes. These swirling formations, typically seen at dusk, are thought to serve several purposes – helping the birds stay warm, evade predators, and attract others to join the flock before roosting. On this occasion, the tactic proved successful, as the falcon’s attack was ultimately unsuccessful. Peregrine falcons have previously been spotted on Chester Zoo’s estate, which includes areas of reserve land managed to encourage biodiversity. Ruby Merriman, the zoo’s Estate Biodiversity Manager, believes the starlings are likely drawn to the site by the abundance of food such as nuts, seeds, berries, and insects. While murmurations may create the illusion that starlings are thriving, the species is in fact in serious decline. Starlings are on the UK’s Red List for birds, meaning their population has fallen dramatically in the past 25 years – largely due to human activities rather than natural predators. Beyond its own estate, Chester Zoo is leading the Networks for Nature project, which aims to create wildlife corridors across the region. The initiative, funded by the Westminster Foundation, seeks to support species like starlings and birds of prey by connecting natural spaces. Cunningham also hopes the footage can help inspire conservationists of the future as he plans to share the videos in his education sessions, encouraging young people to engage with wildlife and the natural world.
Keywords: murmuration,feature,video,photo,starlings,peregrine falcon,nature,natural world cheshire
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