“Did you know” is an on-going series of blogs that answer possibly more technical questions people have about birds or their environments. If you have an idea or question, submit it via the “Ask SIB” link on the SeabrookIslandBirders.org web site or send an email to SeabrookIslandBirders@Gmail.com.
Below is a blog from 2022. I was reminded of it recently when Deanna Forsythe forwarded me two videos of Tree Swallows she saw on Jenkins Point. Her videos are great and a refresher on murmuration seemed appropriate at this time.
Here is the blog from 2022:
Until recently, I never heard of a murmuration. According to Webster Dictionary, a murmuration is a flock of Starlings. The article that first brought the term to my attention was this Yahoo article: Why do Birds Swoop and Swirl Together in the Sky.
After reading that article, my thought was the movement is similar to what I’ve seen in Red Knots near our beach. I especially liked this one of many that were a result of a Google search of Red Knot murmuration.
Another interesting video is The Math and Mystery of Murmurations. Finally, there is Why do Starlings Flock in Murmurations? I’m sure more searches would find more on the topic but these gave me an appreciation of the grace and science of this phenomena.