You want to see something beautiful?

[trumad]

I promise you won't be rick-rolled.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/02/murmuration-starlets_n_1072687.html

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. How wonderful, my dear trumad!

Really stunning images...

I'm so glad I stopped by to see this...

Thank you!

[surrealAmerican]

2. They are beautiful.

These don't compare to seeing them in real life, though.

[Paper Roses]

3. Years ago, my husband and I were having a meal at a restaurant on RT 13

in Delaware. As we sat there, we noticed a flock of starlings take off...it got more and more bizarre. For about 20 minutes, the air was filled with birds, all flying in the same direction. Actually, it was something out of Hitchcock. We asked our waitress about it and she said it happens every day about the same time. Strangest sight I have ever seen. Millions of birds blackened the sky.

The restaurant was Dempsey's. Rt 13. Several times a year we had to drive to DC on business so we stopped there frequently. Good food, reasonable prices. Open 24 hours so we never had to worry about where to eat. Bird side show if you got there in time.

[trof]

4. How do they not have a zillion mid-air collisions?

???????

[Major Nikon]

5. Flying is not the only thing they do in unison

Years ago a coworker was working underneath a large communication tower while the rest of us were inside. We heard him scream and we ran out. Apparently what seemed like millions of starlings came to roost and every one of them took a gang shit as soon as they lit on the tower. He was completely coated with shit. Fortunately he was wearing a hard hat. We had to turn the garden hose out on him.

[rurallib]

9. I was actually surprised these women did not get coated.

[nolabear]

6. This is why I'm sure my parrot Pidge can read my mind.

There's an incredible awareness of nuance of motion that allows for a response before we terribly slow and earthbound even finish realizing we intend to move. Beautiful. Beautiful.

[MiddleFingerMom]

7. What makes it even more beautiful is the demeanor of the two women involved.

.
.
.
I think some folks might see danger in those formations
and even feel fearful... they just seemed filled with awe
and joy at a sight they recognized for its beauty.
.
.
.
People like that sometimes literslly inspire me as much
as the event itself. They exhibit a certain quiet courage
and capacity for joy in their lives.
.
.
.

[trumad]

10. my same reaction

They made the moment even more beautiful. The woman at the end just giggled as if she had just seen God.

Very cool.

[handmade34]

11. if there is a god

that is surely it!!! :-)

[Lucinda]

8. Very cool! Thank you!

[Electric Monk]

12. Thank you trumad, that was amazing to watch :)

[hedgehog]

13. I see the same thing on a smaller scale up near Syracuse when the starlings go

into their winter roosts. I never knew it had a name.

Once I was driving in to work a back shift in late autumn. I took a long curving exit that was tilted to the west so the black top was heated by the setting sun. There wasn't much traffic at the time, and a flock of starlings was sitting on the pavement. I had to slow to a crawl, and ended up driving through a quarter mile of birds taking off in front of my car. It was surreal and beautiful and scary as hell. It occurred to me later that if I hadn't slowed down, hitting that many birds would have caused me to lose control and wreck the car.

People tend to disparage starlings as an invasive species, and I suppose a huge flock can be annoying. Still, i like to listen to them chattering in the morning.

[Electric Monk]

14. kick

[TuxedoKat]

15. That was amazing!

How lucky they were to see that in person and catch it on film.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

16. breathtaking!

:)