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Murmuration

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 10:35 pm
by Gob
Oxfordshire starling murmuration 'fantastic phenomenon'

A mumuration of some 70,000 starlings above a Oxfordshire nature reserve has been described as a "ballet of the skies".

Dr Anne Goodenough, from the University of Gloucestershire, said the spectacle was "an absolutely fantastic phenomenon".

"I would defy anyone to watch this and not have a smile on their face. It's the sound of them beating their wings as one, moving together as one, and that's where the word 'murmuration' comes from - a murmour," she said.

The university is carrying out a survey to help establish the reason for the extraordinary aerial behaviour.



Re: Murmuration

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 10:42 pm
by MajGenl.Meade
I blame Obama

Re: Murmuration

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 1:38 am
by dales
[rubato] Starlings are a pest species in North America. [/rubato]

Re: Murmuration

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 8:28 am
by TPFKA@W
I wouldn't stand under that looking up.

Re: Murmuration

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 1:48 pm
by Lord Jim
Dr Anne Goodenough
I'd prefer to get the expertise of somebody a little better than that...

Re: Murmuration

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 4:48 pm
by rubato
TPFKA@W wrote:I wouldn't stand under that looking up.

closing your mouth would help.

yrs,
rubato

Re: Murmuration

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 4:57 pm
by rubato
Nice video. It links to a second one about starlings in Israel.

Resembles films of quelea flocking in Africa.




yrs,
rubato

Re: Murmuration

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 5:48 pm
by Econoline
rubato wrote:
TPFKA@W wrote:I wouldn't stand under that looking up.
closing your mouth would help.
A fine illustration of the reason hats were invented... :mrgreen: