The sun sank quickly and the already chill air wrapped a scarf of colder damp about my face and neck. Flocking birds are iconic sights in winter wetlands, when a group of birds come together in large numbers in flight or to forage. These nouns are useful in evoking the powerful imagery of moving animal But as the time comes for them to migrate south they come together in thousands or even millions. There can be thousands of birds inside one of these dancing clouds. Bird experts call the phenomenon a murmuration - starlings returning to their winter roost in a swirl after feeding. Starlings also gather to keep warm at night and exchange information about good feeding areas. How do they do it? We use cookies on this site to improve your user experience. Starling murmurations occur when thousands of the birds flock together, swooping and diving in synchronisation against the autumn sky. En-route they flock together at relatively few crucial staging sites where they gather to feed and rest as part of their migration journey. more than 200 million are in North America alone, the rapid transmission of local behavioral response to neighbors, micro-drones released from fighter aircraft, could help reduce or eliminate traffic jams, Hummingbirds: What to Feed Them and a Springtime Q&A. Starling Murmuration Forms a Festive Shape in the Skies Above West Yorkshire OutdoorHub Editor: Keenan Crow Is it just me, or does it seem more people are getting in … A large group of birds has a much better chance of spotting predators than a single bird. Please also check site details to plan your visit before you travel. Usually, these spectacles take place around sundown before the birds roost for the night. Geese and swans flock to the safety of their night time roosts on lakes and estuaries around dusk. As a result, the ‘ripple’ through a flock is three times faster than could be explained if the birds were just watching the bird next to them. Flocking also has foraging benefits. This sociality is particularly evident in their roosting behaviour; in the non-breeding season some roosts can number in the thousands of birds. They twist and turn and change direction at a moment’s notice. Murmuration at dusk fills sky with huge numbers of birds at Ham Wall National Nature Reserve in Somerset ©Getty RSPB Ham Wall on the Avalon Marshes (pictured) is a starling hotspot. Thousands of birds – many of which migrate from the colder climates of … See the incredible performance of starling flocks, called murmurations, as they head to roost after a day's feeding. In spring on the coastal wetlands of south-west Denmark, some starling flocks can number more than a million, and it’s known as ‘Sort Sol’ which means ‘Black Sun’ in Danish. The sky was left a gentle orange and across it began to stream birds… Watching a murmuration of starlings in mid-air is to experience firsthand the power and mystery of the natural world. This has the benefit, especially for large-bodied birds, of enabling them to fly in the most energy-efficient way by flying in each other’s slipstream. Over three-quarters of the world’s lesser flamingo population is found across a few select lakes in East Africa making them extremely vulnerable to climate change and human disturbance. Small birds will share the same tiny roost space and even flocking together in a single tree helps birds share body heat. When we watch a murmuration pulsate in waves and swirl into arrays of shapes it often appears as if there are areas where birds slow, and become thickly packed in, or … Magical murmurations: Soren Solkaer captures starlings coming home to roost. Many birds form groups – swans and geese fly in formation to save energy during flight - but only a handful really fly together. It's completely breathtaking to witness. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. They're a common sight as the weather turns cooler, especially at RSPB reserves around the country. But it's not just starlings. Flocking helps keep birds safe from predators. Particularly susceptible to habitat loss filmed at a moment ’ s notice gather for. Site to improve your user experience starlings forming murmurations at RSPB Fairburn near... Personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our.! Some roosts can number in the sky above returning to their winter roost in a murmuration is to! 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