Starling Murmurations Art Print

Spanning approximately 160,000 acres (650 km²) the Somerset Levels provide a habitat for a diverse range of plant and bird species and serves as a crucial feeding ground for many birds. Due to its wetland character, the Levels boast a rich biodiversity of national and international significance and includes 32 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), 12 of which are also designated as Special Protection Areas.

This design features the annual spectacle of starling murmurations, a phenomenon that occurs between October and March each year. Some of the best spots to witness these starling murmurations in Somerset are the National Nature Reserves at Westhay Moor and Shapwick Heath, as well as RSPB Ham Wall.

Starlings gather in massive, sweeping formations that can number in the hundreds of thousands, and as birds of prey frequently attempt to catch individual starlings, their actions cause the murmuration to compress and shift into various shapes. To see this in action is truly spectacular!