Cartographer
April 2015 - Mar 29, 2024 13:44:32 GMT
“ Armchair Traveller - Love to Roam Google Streets - 8 Star Local Guide of Google Maps „
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Post by CuriousJM on Dec 19, 2015 7:14:25 GMT
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 AdamImage from Geograph UK is by Walter BaxterImage from Flickr is by AdamImage from Geograph UK is by Walter BaxterImage from Flickr is by AdamImage from Geograph UK is by Walter BaxterImage from Flickr is by AdamAn 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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March 2015 - May 1, 2023 4:20:37 GMT
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Post by diane9247 on Dec 29, 2015 5:54:38 GMT
The global location map is a fantastic addition to your great post, CJM. Hopefully, people in other countries besides the UK will become just as interested in reporting murmuration sightings. I've just taken a guess as to the general location of the video (open field, patches of trees, power lines, etc.). I hope scientists can eventually give us some idea of the mechanics of murmuration. What a sight! Fascinating how it all ends so suddenly. These are not individualistic creatures who "do their own thing." Starling murmuration.kmz (706 B)
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Cartographer
April 2015 - Mar 29, 2024 13:44:32 GMT
“ Armchair Traveller - Love to Roam Google Streets - 8 Star Local Guide of Google Maps „
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Post by CuriousJM on Dec 29, 2015 9:46:32 GMT
Thank you diane9247 for your kind comments and posting the likely location from where the video has been taken. To be honest (and with due apologies to you) I am not sure about the correctness of the location marked by you. I think it is somewhere on the south-west of the town, nearer to the Channel of River Esk. The radio masts shown in the video are also confusing because as per my search the nearest radio masts are about 16 Kms. (10 miles) from your suggested location. I am going to put this in F&G and see what the wizards there say about it.
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March 2015 - May 1, 2023 4:20:37 GMT
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Post by diane9247 on Dec 29, 2015 11:46:22 GMT
Good idea, CJM! I suppose the only problem with it being 10 miles away is that it's not Gretna Green, then. Oh well...
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