Because of the “murmuring” sound they produce, a large group of starlings flying in formation is called a “murmuration.”
There are many photos of these on line:
These murmurations can include thousands of individual starlings.
Today we had a showing of several hundred at Marie Curtis Park.
Murmuration occurs after the breeding season and in the colder months of the year. It is thought that this is a method of “signposting” a chosen roosting spot, a way of staying warm in the company of others and a way of decreasing the chances of an individual being captured by a bird of prey.
Marie Curtis Park scenes:
Today was Remembrance Day and we had several airplane flyovers heading to downtown:
Some botany:
Today’s group:
NATURE POETRY
Oh Sing We Now The Holy Weeds – Margaret Atwood
When autumn comes, the Acorn’s ripe,
The Walnut black is too;
Young Milkweed pods are sweet when boiled,
And Milkweed shoots when new.
Miles Hearn