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:

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