Spectacular Murmuration of Starlings at Gretna Green
Murmuration of starlings is an amazing mass gathering and synchronised
flying and swirling by starlings just before they roost on the trees. The phenomenon normally takes
place during the winter months when a large flock of starlings, which can number
from few thousands to hundred thousands, gather togather and perform intricate aerobatics movements;
twisting and turning in air thereby creating ever-changing shapes in the
sky at the time of roosting. It is one of the most stunning spectacles of the
nature. Actual reason for this amazing mass behaviour of these birds
has eluded scientists.
Though murmuration is the collective noun for group of
starlings it is also
used to describe this amazing display. Murmuration of starlings occurs at many places around the
World, but there are few locations which seem to be more popular with these
birds for mass gathering. One of such location is Gretna Green in South Scotland where large group
of starlings sometimes numbering over 1 million, flock every evening at sunset,
specially during the winter months, to perform this amazing act before they settle on the
trees to roost for the night.
Images and the video given below will give some idea of this stunning spectacle.
Image from Geograph UK is by Walter Baxter
Image from Flickr is by Adam
Image from Geograph UK is by Walter Baxter
Image from Flickr is by Adam
Image from Geograph UK is by Walter Baxter
Image from Flickr is by Adam
Image from Geograph UK is by Walter Baxter
Image from Flickr is by Adam
An amazing video clip (best viewed in full screen);
View location in Google Earth / Google Maps (Location courtesy of geograph.org.uk)
Global location Map created by Royal Society of Protection of Birds.
Source of info and more info and images:
- rspb.org.uk
- ecology.com
- wonderopolis.org
- BBC New - South Scotland
- BBC News - Mysteries of murmuration
0 comments:
Post a Comment