slcarn Loc: Draper, Utah USA

We were visited by several Starling flocks today which is somewhat unusual.

As you can see from the photos below, there were a lot of them. I started with a D5 and 500mm pf lens then took a few with a D850 and 24-70mm lens. Very interesting as they flew around then landed in large numbers but stayed very unsettled.

I don't know if this is one flock or more, so I call it a herd! Knowing my limits, I stopped counting at 10.

Did you know this fun fact?

All the European Starlings in North America descended from 100 birds set loose in New York's Central Park in the early 1890s. The birds were intentionally released by a group who wanted America to have all the birds that Shakespeare ever mentioned. It took several tries, but eventually the population took off. Today, more than 200 million European Starlings range from Alaska to Mexico, and many people consider them pests.

Enjoy, I did.

Steve

One of two neighbors' houses

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The other house

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Heading to the power lines

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Waiting for instructions?

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About 1/3 of the herd

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They are off

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A short muruation

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Then back on the power lines with the rest of the herd

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jdtonkinson Loc: Red Wing, MN

Wow Steve
That sure looks like a huge here of Starlings. You captured them well.
Thanks for the background info too

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Good work! They have been circling around our area recently.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Yes, I did know that! Lots of people hate starlings but when they see the flocks of them swirling in the sky like living clouds, they tend to change their minds, at least temporarily!

NMGal Loc: NE NM

I’ve never seen so many in one place.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Wow!

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

The Feds used to do Starling/Grackle control by spraying soapy water over the roosts at night. The soap caused the water to penetrate the feathers and the birds would die of hypothermia. Public response to the "murder" of these poor defenseless birds caused the program to be stopped

slcarn Loc: Draper, Utah USA

[quote=Curmudgeon]The Feds used to do Starling/Grackle control by spraying soapy water over the roosts at night. The soap caused the water to penetrate the feathers and the birds would die of hypothermia. Public response to the "murder" of these poor defenseless birds caused the program to be stopped[/quote

Thank you, this information is very interesting.
Steve

slcarn Loc: Draper, Utah USA

Thanks Chief, it is mesmerizing to watch them flying as clouds.
Steve

slcarn Loc: Draper, Utah USA

Thanks for looking and for your comments.
Steve

stillkickin Loc: Coastal Bend of Texas

They are fun to watch and are also loud and obnoxious critters. I posted a pic recently and there were 10's of 1000' s of them

wham121736 Loc: Long Island, New York

Google murmuration and you will find many thousands of starlings in flight.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Two hundred million--there’s a chance that they have all tried to get into my barn at one time or another. Curses on those fellows!

Nice photographing them, by the way.

merrytexan Loc: georgia

that is amazing...there are sooo many of them...i like your shots and the information on starlings. i have never
seen one in my yard or around the town.

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

Holy Cow....you weren't kidding.......oh my God. Nice set. Thanks.