Re: Starling Murmuration...

Lilysmom · ‎03-09-2010

@MacDUFF, thanks for this. Now I am curious about why the birds do this. Off to google.🙂LM

...and the answer is ...

We think that starlings do it for many reasons. Grouping together offers safety in numbers – predators such as peregrine falcons find it hard to target one bird in the middle of a hypnotising flock of thousands. They also gather to keep warm at night and to exchange information, such as good feeding areas.

MacDUFF · ‎05-29-2015

I glad y'all enjoyed it. A beautiful dance, indeed.

I had to look up "murmuration," birdmama...I thought it was something Handsome does when he doesn't want me to hear what he's saying!

Jealous of anyone (author!) who has seen the murmuration in real life...mesmerizing. Agree about the music (one of my favorites, too, see below+)...it's the music that always brings tear to my eyes, SandPiper. (I've seen dozens of sand pipers simultaneously turn on a dime running in and out with the surf...could watch them for hours...it is the little things, waterlily!)

I had never even heard of a fish bait ball, phoenix, so I looked it up (2 short videos below*). Lilys did some investigating and came up with the idea that the starlings murmurate for protection...safety in numbers. Whereas, fish end up as bait! It's official...birds are smarter than fish!

*This one has the "dance" to it...

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=fish+making+bait+ball&&view=detail&mid=E95896CB8A548233D93FE958...

*As bait for Bluefin Tuna...

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=fish+making+bait+ball&&view=detail&mid=09F86C4CF69CC9792EE709F8...

+Pachelbel's Canon in D major...

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=pachelbel+canon+in+d&&view=detail&mid=3AF5C3F22F9747BA920C3AF5C...

+Trans Siberian Orchestra version (I always go overboard!)...

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=pachelbel+canon+in+d+trans+siberian+orchestra&qpvt=pachelbel+ca...

should all be clean video links

~~~ I call dibs on the popcorn concession!! ~~~