The relatively warm winter of 2014/2015 permitted starlings to remain in the Nederlands rather than embark on their typical southern migration. This presented Dutch filmmaker Jan van IJken with an opportunity to capture the mesmerizing and ineffable flight patterns of these otherwise unremarkable aerial navigators. The collective noun for starlings is a “murmuration”, although after watching these fluid and breathtaking maneuvers, I submit that a “gasp” might be equally appropriate. (h/t to AGD)
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i’ve often thought that the astounding ability of birds flying in flocks to change direction like that without colliding is got to be an example of a true miracle.