Around this time of year, as temperatures dip in the Northern Hemisphere, European or common starlings put on a dazzling show. Most of the time, these noisy birds are scorned for their bullying behavior at the bird feeder. But in autumn months, they gather to roost in huge flocks, as they’re doing here in Blackpool, England. At dusk, the starlings take flight en masse and flock together in a hypnotizing, swirling cloud of fluttering wings. These flocks are called mumurations. They"re thought to help keep the birds warm while also acting as a defensive tactic to confuse predators like hawks and falcons. But maybe the raptors are rendered harmless simply because they’re awestruck by the starlings" synchronized spectacle.
Mesmerizing murmuration
Today in History
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Gespensterwald, Nienhagen, Germany
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A wild and scenic scene
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Winter solstice
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Amber Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
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Floating temples in the Land of Smiles
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What s going on in this sky?
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Feel the spray in Monterey
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Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona
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Flamingos of the Chilean desert
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200th anniversary of Brazilian independence
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Visiting Ahch-To on Star Wars Day
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May the Fourth be with you…
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Celtic Colours International Festival, Canada
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Smoking nights in Austria
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Celebrating a young girl s age-old discovery
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The Feathers at Frenchman Coulee near Vantage, Washington
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St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland
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The Crown of the Continent
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Heavens Gate Cave, Tianmen Mountain National Park, China
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The Bahamas as seen from the ISS
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European river otter, Netherlands
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World Elephant Day
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All eyes on sustainability
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Celebrating World Art Day
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Everglades National Park marks 90 years
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Bay Marker Lookout, Sydney Olympic Park, Australia
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A red knot on the Shetland Islands, Scotland
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Have a ‘beary’ good Earth Day
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Rockin with the rockhoppers
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Crescent-tail bigeye fish, Great Barrier Reef, Australia