A Murmuration of Starlings (and other reasons why it's better to be outside)

Fangorn

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[video=vimeo;31158841]http://vimeo.com/31158841[/video]
 
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rockm

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As interesting and beautiful as those starlings are, if you're in an area where a flock that large roosts, I can assure it isn't as beautiful when it's crapping on your car/house/family members. Having put up with a large flock of this invasive, prolific, non-native bird here in North America, I can say its beauty is fleeting.;)
 

JudyB

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Agreed, they kick everything else out and eat their young. But they sure are amazing the way they wheel as one. We have them on the fields after harvest but over the water it is breathtaking.
 

Bonsai Nut

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This video takes my breath away. Makes me feel like when I am out on a mountain at dawn. Within 20 miles there are over 1 million humans sleeping. But I am alone on the mountain...
 
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reminds me of a swarm of locust... I feel as though perhaps I should go outside and check my plants !!! :)
 

jason biggs

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nature is awesome-reminds me of a giant shoal of baitfish:rolleyes: isn't murmuration a really weird word???
 

rockm

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I prefer a "murder" of crows. I wonder how THAT came to be...Starlings murmur, crows murder...very Hitchcockian.

"nature is awesome-reminds me of a giant shoal of baitfish"

Basically, it's the same thing. One reason they do this is to confuse predators like hawks...
 
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Fangorn

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As interesting and beautiful as those starlings are, if you're in an area where a flock that large roosts, I can assure it isn't as beautiful when it's crapping on your car/house/family members. Having put up with a large flock of this invasive, prolific, non-native bird here in North America, I can say its beauty is fleeting.;)

I hear ya, but I'm positive I'd always enjoy that show. I've seen similar displays around here but never in those numbers.
 

Fangorn

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Not just a cool bird, I'm also pretty sure it's never crapped on anyone
[video=youtube;OFDdtRD5ED8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFDdtRD5ED8[/video]
 

Speedy

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Had what i believe, after watching that video, to be a murmuration in the oak trees this morning. The squawking was pretty loud and reminded me of a scene form 'The Birds", except for them not being gulls. One Black Cat firecracker and they all took off, I could feel the wind from their wings...
 
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