In the Voronezh reserve filmed the “dance” of thousands of starlings
During such collective flights, starlings develop speeds over 50 km / h
Employees of the Voronezh State Biosphere Reserve named after V.M. Peskov shared footage of an unusual natural phenomenon - the murmuration of starlings. In the sky, thousands of birds at the same time form bizarre figures: they are strayed into a dense pulsating mass, then sharply fly apart, then line up intricate spirals.
The video was published by senior researcher of the reserve Alexander Mishin. He noticed a flock at a local pond - birds rose into the air from reed thickets.
During such collective flights, starlings develop a speed of over 50 km / h, while managing not to collide with each other and move as a whole. Similar synchronous behavior occurs in other animals, such as fish in schools or locusts in swarms.
The causes of murmuration are still controversial among scientists. Some believe that autumn clusters help birds to search for food together and prepare for migration. Others see it as a way to defend against predators: the chaotic maneuvers of the entire pack prevent the enemy from choosing a specific victim. There is also a version that young birds need such flights to master social skills.
