RSPCA: 75 starlings die in mystery crash landing

Wednesday, 10 March 2010 12:00 AM

Mystery surrounds the death of 75 starlings which crashed to the ground and died on a single driveway in Somerset.

The birds were spotted falling from the sky and onto the driveway of a house in Coxley, Somerset, on Sunday 7 March.

RSPCA animal welfare officer (AWO) Alison Sparkes was alerted to the unusual incident by the police and went to help.

She discovered that most of the birds had suffered broken beaks, broken legs and wings and abdominal injuries, but were otherwise in good bodily condition.

All but five of the birds were dead and sadly they had to be put to sleep by veterinary staff at the RSPCA's West Hatch Wildlife Centre, Taunton, Somerset, because of their severe injuries.

Alison said: "It was a remarkable sight and I've never seen anything like it before. Onlookers said they heard a whooshing sound and then the birds just hit the ground. They had fallen onto the ground in quite a small area, about 12 feet in diameter.

"They appeared to be in good condition other than injuries that they appear to have suffered when they hit they ground.

"Our best guess is that this happened because the starlings were trying to escape a predator such as a sparrow hawk and ended up crash landing."

There is no evidence that the birds had been poisoned or were ill before they crashed into the ground.

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Notes to editors:

Photos of the dead birds lying on the driveway are available from the national RSPCA press office on 0300 123 0244. Please credit the RSPCA and do not archive them.

RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS
Press office direct lines: 0300 123 0244/0288 Fax: 0303 123 0099
Duty press officer (evenings and weekends) Tel 08448 222888 and ask for pager number 828825
Email: press@rspca.org.uk Website: www.rspca.org.uk

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