Spectacular Starling Flock

Immense magical murmuration of Spectacular Starlings and a single falcon over Gretna, Scotland

After an abortive first trip to see the birds (they didn't show and Hector caught me on film looking a bit fed up waiting around at the start of the film!) Sally, Jessica and I were lucky a few days later....

I chose the music for its fluid soaring beauty. Music is about the only thing that humans can create that is as beautiful as natural sights such as this murmuration of starlings.

I'm heard to say 'Good Heavens. Look at this!' I was right to be impressed.. it was an astonishing sight of an immense flock of gathering starlings preparing to roost at dusk in February 2008 at Gretna, Southern Scotland, beside the M74 as trucks and cars thunder by. Watch out for the sparrowhawk at the flock edge as it tries to pick off birds. Makes you realise just how irrelevant humans are. The film can't get anywhere close to portraying the beauty and enormity of this sight. You can feel the air push around you as the flock whooshes overhead.
The music is Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard Ensemble,, from the album Officium.
My exclamation of 'No' at the end on the soundtrack is disbelief not annoyance. I simply couldn't believe what a fantastic sight it was.
There are lots of my photos of this at:
www.flickr.com/photos/heandfi

• Category

  Pets & Animals

[3stonia]

First impresson.. " what the f is this music? ".. creeped me out.. allmost closed it.. but then the music didn't bother my taste for the two things togeather.. I loved the video.. why do they form this kind of formations? Looked like a storm to me.

[Fifi48]

They form this huge flock for safety. It makes it more difficult for falcons to home in on single ones. Plus, when they drop to the trees to roost they can keep warmer in large numbers.

[guffey0909]

The passing vehicles add a note of stark contrast as we see natures fluid movements puncutated by the technology of human creation.

[Fifi48]

I quite agree! I kept the traffic sounds on the soundtrack for that reason really.

[Fifi48]

Try again with the sound off? Just a thought..... ;-)

[Tilly Pink]

Beautiful - and Jan Garbarek - so fitting! Free improvisation over the order of the chant.

[LastTree]

OMG, this is beautiful. This is one of the gifts of nature.

[Kim Whiteadder]

Great vid! check out my version /watch?v=Zg71p7tFclg

[Jim Inglis]

i believe there is more going on then fear.

[kolla123]

How do they not run into each other?

[Natasza Rollo]

Wow.

[sylve6]

thats is exactly how Anonymous works, you goofy people, even the birds giving you clue lines: learn nonviolent communication and joy Anonymous. we all are connected by having same feelings and needs it takes 3 weeks to relearn basics of NVC and we can fly like those birds and clean up world from coercion.

[pipingmarine]

So, ps37, you can get inside a starling's mind and tell whether or not it enjoys killing other birds? Amazing! That's good for a Las Vegas floor show, at least. I've seen starlings go out of their way to destroy another bird's nest even when they have their own in use 10 feet away. These nasty, vicious birds should be destroyed at every opportunity. Maybe then the bluebirds, purple martins, and other cavity dwellers will stand a chance.