ForumGarden

Posted: **Wed Jan 16, 2013 5:39 am**

Great photos! I think the first 3 are the best ... a little spooky looking. Seeing these great flocks change direction and the murmuration twist & undulate in the sky is an amazing sight but one which I haven't seen in a while. I don't know if there are fewer starlings or if I'm just not in the right place at the right time. The term "murmuration" is a new one for me!

Breathtaking Murmurations of Starlings | Bored Panda

Posted: **Wed Jan 16, 2013 6:14 am**

I've never seen anything like that and I'd freak out if I did. Strange that this happens only in November and February. Maybe they're following ley lines.

Posted: **Wed Jan 16, 2013 9:34 am**

We see those here in Kansas. It does look crazy sometimes.

Posted: **Wed Jan 16, 2013 9:54 am**

The starlings in my neighborhood aren't so artistic. All they do is eat the best garbage & boss the sparrows & pigeons.

Posted: **Wed Jan 16, 2013 12:39 pm**

AnneBoleyn;1416951 wrote: The starlings in my neighborhood aren't so artistic. All they do is eat the best garbage & boss the sparrows & pigeons.

Are they resident? They only perform like that when preparing to migrate.

Posted: **Wed Jan 16, 2013 12:46 pm**

They took up residence a few years ago. I believe they followed me from Massachusetts, where they had the same yearly nest, a crack in the wall, above the entrance.

PS, these guys ain't going anywhere.

Posted: **Wed Jan 16, 2013 12:57 pm**

AnneBoleyn;1416968 wrote: They took up residence a few years ago. I believe they followed me from Massachusetts, where they had the same yearly nest, a crack in the wall, above the entrance.

PS, these guys ain't going anywhere.

With you being so far north I was surprised they don't migrate so I looked it up. Turns out they're an introduced species so they would have no natural migration pattern.

I was amazed at the method of introduction - one hundred starlings were released into Central Park by an organization who believed that all birds mentioned in the works of Shakespeare should be present in the US! No thought to the effect on the ecosystem, just a tribute to the bard.

Posted: **Wed Jan 16, 2013 1:12 pm**

I've always heard them referred to as "nuisance birds" and knew they weren't native but I didn't know the story of their introduction.

Posted: **Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:00 am**

Posted: **Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:07 am**

Tabby... you may think they are wonderful.... come to my garden just before they migrate when they eat anything In sight. :wah:

I don't know why they stop off at my little garden but there are herds of them.

In fact... residents about half a mile from me once applied to the council to have them culled because there were so many pooping on cars..

Posted: **Sat Jan 18, 2020 4:45 pm**

Here are some more great shots:

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/ ... gs/579286/

I particularly like #13 because the murmuration somewhat takes the shape of a chubby bird!

These are not well loved birds but I can't help but admire the photos.

Posted: **Sat Jan 18, 2020 9:30 pm**

tabby;1529698 wrote: Here are some more great shots:

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/ ... gs/579286/

I particularly like #13 because the murmuration somewhat takes the shape of a chubby bird!

These are not well loved birds but I can't help but admire the photos.

Yeah, up close, they can be pretty annoying.

But at a distance, they are fascinating.