The Dance of the Starling and Falcon

December 29, 2017 by still a dreamer

One of the wonders of nature is the movement of large numbers of animals in a synchronization we can only observe in awe. In fish, we see schools, in insects, swarms, and in birds, we see flocking. It is a mesmerizing dance. Above we see crows, below starlings.

In the video linked to here, titled The Starling and Falcon Dance by Nick Dunlop, set to the most perfect music, we see thousands of European Starlings migrating south. They have attracted a prime predator, the Peregrine Falcon, and in attempting to evade him, they fly in synch and create amazing patterns in the sky. As fascinating as these photos might be, they cannot show you the magic created by the birds in flight.

Please take a look at one of nature’s miracles.

Posted in Animals, Dance, Inspiration, Nature, Wildlife | Tagged Dance, flight, flocking, migration, starlings. Peregrine Falcon, The Starling and Falcon Dance | 10 Comments

10 Responses

on December 29, 2017 at 10:17 pm Lavinia Ross

Starling murmurations are beautiful to watch! Have a bright and wonderful new year, Jeanne!

LikeLiked by 1 person
- on December 30, 2017 at 8:41 am still a dreamer
  
  Ahhh – there’s a word for that that I didn’t know – murmurations! Same to you, Lavinia – the best of everything in the New Year!
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
on December 30, 2017 at 8:50 am Donald Koelmel

OMG … I’ve never seen anything like this before!

LikeLiked by 1 person
- on December 30, 2017 at 11:03 am still a dreamer
  
  I actually have an (unfinished) article for Highlights on this – it has always fascinated me!
  
  LikeLike
on December 30, 2017 at 10:59 am Cynthia Reyes

Wonderful, Jeanne. Thank you for sharing. I’m always mesmerised by this sight.

LikeLiked by 1 person
- on December 30, 2017 at 11:04 am still a dreamer
  
  You’re welcome – I’ll pass it along to the friend who shared it with me! I see starlings in flocks here, but nothing at all like in this video!
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
on December 30, 2017 at 11:48 am Denzil TheBookOwl

Superb! Thanks for bringing my attention to this Jeanne. It had me spellbound. I think I will put it on my Discovering Belgium blog.

LikeLike
- on December 30, 2017 at 1:51 pm still a dreamer
  
  My pleasure – yes, it is a wonder to behold. BTW, Vimeo will not allow an embed of this video, ergo just the link. 🙂
  
  LikeLike
on January 1, 2018 at 12:34 pm Andrea Stephenson

It’s one of my dreams to see a starling murmuration in the flesh Jeanne – it’s unbelievable how beautiful it is.

LikeLike
- on January 1, 2018 at 3:47 pm still a dreamer
  
  I’m sure I would be standing with my mouth open in awe. I just feel lucky that my friend sent this to me!
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person