Bucket List: Starling Murmuration, Brighton, UK
Starling Murmuration: Brighton, UK
We have all been mesmerized by a bird flying, floating, soaring, and swooping in the sky. Sometimes it is just a lone hawk scoping out its next meal and other times it is the buzz of a hummingbird zipping around while our eyes try to catch any sort of glimpse.
Now, take those moments, multiply the amount of birds by a few thousand, and then you will get the nightly experience over Brighton & Hove from September through February for the starling Autumn roost. It has become such a spectacle that the city even built a dedicated pier from which you can watch the dance of the starlings!
What is it?
Known as the greatest wildlife spectacle in all of Britain, the starling murmuration is a beautiful symphony of these birds swooping and dashing together. Check out the video below and see for yourself!
Why do they do this?
There are a couple theories as to why they do this.
It’s a way for the birds to scare off predators which are confused by the ever moving mass. Studies have shown that individual starlings move from the outside of the mass to the inside until circulated back out. This serves as a way to minimize their time on the edges, which is the most vulnerable position to any threats.
Heat! It is also thought that the constant moving in a large group is a way to stay warm. With all of the birds flying in unison and working hard, the air temperature increases ever so slightly to help keep warm during the chilly winter evenings and nights.
How do they do this?
With thousands of birds in such a small area, you must be asking how they don’t all just run into each other and cause chaos. Luckily, researchers at Princeton University have studied the murmuration and revealed some math that makes it possible. With the need to balance a response from their neighbors while flying and the need to have energy while doing it all, it is important that they are vigilant but not overstimulated to the point of being drained.
The balance point they determined boiled down to the number 7. Starlings most likely pay attention to their 7 closest neighbors to maintain order in a scenario that should be anything but.
If you would like to get a more in depth understanding, please read the research from Princeton University and Professor Naomi Leonard HERE!
Fun facts (and a not so fun fact)
Fun Fact #1: Each murmuration has about 5,000 Starlings
Not So Fun Fact #1: Twenty years ago, murmurations consisted of up to 50,000 Starlings
Fun Fact #2: Starlings navigate using special crystals in their beak and cells in their right eye to sense the magnetic field.
Royal Pavilion: Brighton, UK
Where is Brighton?
Nestled into the southern coast of Britain, Brighton & Hove is a seaside resort town located only 47 miles (76km) south of London accessible by train (1 hour) and car (1.5 hours).
Brighton Palace Pier
what else is there to do there?
Brighton isn’t called the UK’s hippest city for nothing.
Palace Pier is more than just a pier that stretches into the ocean. It’s an oasis of fun and gathering! There is a full amusement park to get your juices flowing before you visit the i360 tower. Not recommended for the faint of heart, this is an observation tower that reaches 532 feet and is the thinnest tower in the world at only 12 feet across.
Slow down a bit and visit the Royal Pavilion, King George IV’s pleasure palace, before heading out for some shopping and perusing local crafts on North Laine. In the evening, take on West Street for some drinks with new friends.
An upset….or really happy starling
Resources:
https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/19140495.best-time-see-brighton-starling-murmurations/
https://www.brightonphotography.com/brighton-starling-murmuration-prints
https://www.countryfile.com/wildlife/birds/what-is-a-murmuration-and-where-are-the-best-places-in-britain-to-see-one/
UP NEXT: Mackenzie Basin, New Zealand!
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