Assessing the Effects of Scaring Starlings Roosting on Blackpool Piers

Beaches at Blackpool are designated as Bathing Waters under European Community directive 76/160/EEC (The Bathing Waters Directive).

These waters have failed to comply with the imperative microbiological standards set out in the directive.

Evidence has shown that birds may be a possible source for contaminants found off the Blackpool coastline as they are known to act as carriers of Salmonella and Streptococci.

Research work was carried out in 2001 (Holloway et al 2002) to investigate the possible origin of such contaminants and has been continued in 2002.

It was suspected that Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) might be a possible source of the contamination.