Starlings are a nuisance bird in the United States and are not an Indigenous species. Eugene Schiefflin introduced the first starlings to Central Park, New York. The prolific medium-sized birds multiplied rapidly, and the original 60 mated pairs delivered in 1890 soon became thousands. Now, it is not uncommon to see starling murmuration as the large flocks move from one place to another.
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When starlings fly in groups, the movement is called murmuration because of the murmuring sound of the birds’ wings. The undulations create stunning visuals as the birds bob and weave in the sky.
Patterns of light and dark alternate as the birds fly in tighter proximity or spread out as the starlings continue the murmuration. The drone footage was captured above the seaside town of Aberystwyth in Wales. The scene is mesmerizing.
While it is a beautiful sight, it may have inspired Daphne du Maurier, who wrote “The Birds.” In 1963, Alfred Hitchcock terrorized movie watchers with “The Birds.” In the movie, thousands of rogue birds of every species gathered and stalked the residents of a small town in California. While many folks thought the concept was entertaining, they watched with a skeptical eye.
In the movie, several species gathered together to create havoc. Starlings are a nuisance bird, but they don’t attack humans. They compete with and displace native birds. As an invasive species, they are the bane of ecologists and birders. Starlings also have good points.
Starlings eat insects, including caterpillars, gypsy moths, fly larvae, and flies. Their talent for vocal mimicry allows them to imitate human sounds, ringing telephones, and other animals. They are beautiful, with gleaming, shiny feathers that sparkle in the sunlight.
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