Thousands upon thousands of birds have flown together in dazzling shape-shifting formations at dusk above San Rafael, Calif., over the past two weeks.
The European starlings fly in flocks called "murmurations," and these black clouds of birds have attracted mask-wearing crowds taking in the spectacle centered over the Olivet Cemetery.
Stopping their cars along roadways and in shopping mall parking lots, the onlookers snap photos and video for social media to capture the unusual behavior these stocky birds with glossy black plumage display in winter months to keep warm and confuse predators.
"One of the most spectacular things I've ever seen, for us on Christmas Eve. Our family stepped outside + was awestruck," one Twitter user wrote.
Thousands upon thousands — maybe even more than a million — birds have flocked together in murmurations at dusk above San Rafael, Calif.
Courtesy of Denise CottinThe Marin County flight starts at about 5 p.m. and ends when it gets dark. The audience claps as the birds descend on the cemetery's 25-acre grounds, roosting on the eucalyptus and oak trees overnight.
"When they're flying in the air, they're quiet, but when they land, they start to talk," said Judy Edmonson, the cemetery manager. "It's loud. ... When they first arrived, I swear I thought a big pipe had burst, with rushing water, and then, oh my God, it was a million birds. They settle in the trees and they talk, talk, talk. When they fly, they all become silent at once. And that woosh...just that sound of their wings pushing the air. It's magical."
Marin resident Rich Cimino leads birding tours around the world and has observed starling murmurations everywhere from Italy to the Midwest and has seen the San Rafael flight twice.
"It’s fascinating to see this many birds of the same species do this choreographed flight," Cimino said.
It's unknown how long the starlings will stay in San Rafael as these birds will often inhabit an area for only a few weeks, but Cimino said he suspects they could stay through winter.
"It could be they’re coming into a more moist area due to the drought," he said. "I think they’re comfortable. It’s probably warm enough. There’s probably a good source of food. It’s hard to say because we don’t know what they’re thinking. But I suspect they’re here for some time."
Thousands upon thousands — maybe even more than a million — birds have flocked together in murmurations at dusk above San Rafael, Calif.
Courtesy of Michael PegramThis isn't the first time the starlings have called San Rafael home. Twelve years ago, the birds took up residence in the same cemetery and stayed for a couple weeks.
"They went right back to the same trees from 12 years ago, but we had those trees trimmed two years ago, so all the branches are new and weak," said Edmonson. "They couldn't support all those birds. One week in, they changed to different trees."
Edmonson said the cemetery closes at 5 p.m., but last week people crowded the 25-acre grounds and were staying until well past 7 p.m. Now, she's closing the cemetery early during the work week and staying open late on weekends to accommodate the bird-watchers.
"Last week on Monday and Tuesday, I had at least 500 people here," she said. "I can’t do it during the week."
Thousands upon thousands — maybe even more than a million — birds have flocked together in murmurations at dusk above San Rafael, Calif.
Courtesy of Denise CottinWhile the birds are fun to watch, avid birder Mike Carozza pointed out that starlings are an invasive species in conflict with native birds, eating their food and taking over their habitat.
The birds were introduced to the United States in 1890 when an eccentric New Yorker released starlings in Central Park in an attempt to bring into North America every bird mentioned in Shakespeare works, according to the New York Times.
Now, European starlings are ubiquitous with more than 200 million birds in North America, and many consider them pests who bully native birds such as the acorn woodpecker in the Bay Area.
"There are less than 10 Acorn Woodpeckers left in San Francisco (Lafayette Park) while Starlings thrive," he wrote in an email. "It's sad but true that the murmurations, beautiful as they are, are a sign of a non-native species out-competing our own neighbors."
Thousands upon thousands — maybe even more than a million — birds have flocked together in murmurations at dusk above San Rafael, Calif.
Courtesy of Michael Pegram
Thousands upon thousands — maybe even more than a million — birds have flocked together in murmurations at dusk above San Rafael, Calif.
Courtesy of Michael Pegram
Thousands upon thousands — maybe even more than a million — birds have flocked together in murmurations at dusk above San Rafael, Calif.
Courtesy of Michael Pegram
Thousands upon thousands — maybe even more than a million — birds have flocked together in murmurations at dusk above San Rafael, Calif.
Courtesy of Denise Cottin
Thousands upon thousands — maybe even more than a million — birds have flocked together in murmurations at dusk above San Rafael, Calif.
Courtesy of Michael Pegram
Thousands upon thousands — maybe even more than a million — birds have flocked together in murmurations at dusk above San Rafael, Calif.
Courtesy of Michael Pegram
Thousands upon thousands — maybe even more than a million — birds have flocked together in murmurations at dusk above San Rafael, Calif.
Courtesy of Denise Cottin"dazzling" - Google News
January 05, 2021 at 08:12PM
https://ift.tt/3rVHFpZ
'It's magical': Murmurations of starlings dazzle over San Rafael - SF Gate
"dazzling" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2SitLND
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "'It's magical': Murmurations of starlings dazzle over San Rafael - SF Gate"
Post a Comment