Comments on: [Inspiration] Otherworldly Images Of The Phenomenon Known As A Murmuration

By: Michael Murphy

Michael Murphy — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:52:00 +0000

I’m not a huge following of wildlife photography but this is breathtaking.

By: Kenneth Barker

Kenneth Barker — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 03:56:00 +0000

The Gretna starling display
The birds congregate at sunset, first in small groups and then in
larger clusters, to form a mass of over one million birds creating
elaborate shapes and patterns in the sky. Raptors such as sparrowhawks
and peregrine falcons make an appearance to try and pick off a bird
for supper. After an aerobatic display lasting for about 20 minutes,
the starlings move towards a conifer plantation where they roost for
the night.
It is a spectacle that occurs only during the winter and, until
earlier this year, scientists were puzzled as to how exactly the birds
were able to fly with such simultaneous precision.They have since discovered that each bird tracks seven others,
irrespective of their distance, which is how they stick
together.British starling numbers are thought to have halved to four
million in recent years, due in part to a declining insect
population.But their gatherings – or murmurations – are boosted in the
autumn by tens of millions escaping chillier Russia and Scandinavia,
making this the best time of year to see them.

By: richmaher

richmaher — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 22:13:00 +0000

In California we call it a shitload of birds

By: Andrew Knies-Photographer

Andrew Knies-Photographer — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:12:00 +0000

The only thing I can think of us how I wouldn’t want to be under that. The odds of bird droppings landing on your head seem astronomical!

By: Kim K Sorensen

Kim K Sorensen — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 18:54:00 +0000

It’s a quite amazing phenomenon, that happens every spring and fall in Denmark. Especially in the southern part of our country. Sometimes there can be as much as a million birds. And actually I think it is just about that time now, I think it is from the end of March to the end of April it happens. Guess I oughta go…….. :-)

By: Allan Høgholm Henriksen

Allan Høgholm Henriksen — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:21:00 +0000

In Denmark it is called Sort Sol, or in english Black Sun :)

By: Charles Sanabria-Skaar

Charles Sanabria-Skaar — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:58:00 +0000

I’ve seen a murmuration before, but had no idea what it was called. It was in Princeton NJ though so….not sure it’s exclusive to Europe. I was driving and spotted it. Immediately I was like…”whoa!” I had never seen that before. It reminded me of all of the bats taking shape at the opening of Batman Begins. Was truly amazing to see. So, this video/post was cool as well as educational.

By: junyang chen

junyang chen — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:49:00 +0000

I misread the excerpt and was waiting for the “fishes” to plonk back into the water :D

By: Edd Carlile

Edd Carlile — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:08:00 +0000

Love how the girls laugh in wonder at the end.