A chance encounter and shared moment with one of natures greatest and most fleeting phenomena.
This is a knock-out event, and how wonderful that it was captured on video!
No one knows why they do it. Yet each fall, thousands ofstarlings dance in the twilight above England and Scotland.
The birds gather in shape-shifting flocks called murmurations, having migrated inthe millions from Russia and Scandinavia to escape winter’s frigid bite.Scientists aren’t sure *how* they do it, either.The murmurations are manifestations of swarm intelligence, which in different contexts is practiced by schools of fish, swarms of bees and colonies of ants.
As far as I am aware, even complex algorithmic models haven’t yet explained the starlings’ aerobatics, which rely on the tiny birds' quicksilver reaction time of under 100 milliseconds to avoid aerial collisions—and predators—in the giant flock.Despite their tour de force in the dusky sky, starlings have declinedsignificantly in the UK in recent years, perhaps because of a declinein suitable nesting sites.
The birds still roost in several of Britain’srural pastures, however, settling down to sleep (and chatter) after theirevening ballet.Two young ladies were out for a late afternoon canoe ride, andfortunately one of them had remembered to bring her video camera. Whatthey saw was a wonderful murmuration display, caught in the short videowhose URL is below.Watch the variation of colour and intensity of the patterns that thebirds make in close proximity to one other. And take a look at the girl in the bow of the canoe watching the aerial display.
Enjoy.
http://vimeo.com/31158841
Love Always,
Holly
No one knows why they do it. Yet each fall, thousands ofstarlings dance in the twilight above England and Scotland.
The birds gather in shape-shifting flocks called murmurations, having migrated inthe millions from Russia and Scandinavia to escape winter’s frigid bite.Scientists aren’t sure *how* they do it, either.The murmurations are manifestations of swarm intelligence, which in different contexts is practiced by schools of fish, swarms of bees and colonies of ants.
As far as I am aware, even complex algorithmic models haven’t yet explained the starlings’ aerobatics, which rely on the tiny birds' quicksilver reaction time of under 100 milliseconds to avoid aerial collisions—and predators—in the giant flock.Despite their tour de force in the dusky sky, starlings have declinedsignificantly in the UK in recent years, perhaps because of a declinein suitable nesting sites.
The birds still roost in several of Britain’srural pastures, however, settling down to sleep (and chatter) after theirevening ballet.Two young ladies were out for a late afternoon canoe ride, andfortunately one of them had remembered to bring her video camera. Whatthey saw was a wonderful murmuration display, caught in the short videowhose URL is below.Watch the variation of colour and intensity of the patterns that thebirds make in close proximity to one other. And take a look at the girl in the bow of the canoe watching the aerial display.
Enjoy.
http://vimeo.com/31158841
Love Always,
Holly
Replies
I cannot think of a better day than today to watch such a video. It truly is breathtaking. All I could think was as much as we humans try to capture nature in paintings or words, we are never quite equal to the beauty it presents.
Thank you, Holly....
Bloody amazing!
That was very neat. Maybe you should do the bird blog I\'ve been TRYING to start. I\'m Slow. Just answering my mail wears me out lately. That was outstanding Holly. Thanks
You show so much beauitful birds this time I try to down load it I guess my computer didn\'t want me to see it yet. I know the last pictures you had was so wonderful and peaceful and thank you for sharing them with me.
thank you for bringing a little beauty in my life.
thankyou
This is magnificent! Thank you,
Love,
Jean