I’m still wandering across the States on our holiday, so this is another pre-prepared post. Our internet access has been pretty patchy so far, but hopefully will improve so that I can get around to your blogs this time! Fingers crossed on that one.
This week’s ABC Wednesday is on to the middle part of the alphabet – we’re at the letter ‘M‘. I had a little trouble finding ‘M‘s for you, but then I came across a lot of pictures I’d taken of starlings on our bird-table earlier this year. Did you know that the collective noun for a group of starlings is ‘murmuration’?
If you’ve ever played host to a group of these highly social but incredibly noisy birds, you’ll know why that is.
When we began to feed the birds in the spring this year, the starlings were one of the first to arrive. And because they are highly social birds, they have a method.
One bird will turn up to scout for food – and by the way, they love mealworms – and if he finds some, another will arrive within minutes.
The murmuration begins with a few squawks and twitters, and this is the signal for a few more birds to come and see what the fuss is about.
In a very short time, you have a whole bunch of starlings squabbling among themselves over the available resources.
By this time, the murmuration is loud enough to remind you of a bunch of teenagers outside the local youth club trying to impress the girls, and it looks as if World War Three has broken out among the starling population, but in fact, if you watch them carefully, it’s just pushing and shoving.  And they never attack other species of birds, just each other.
So there you have it. ‘M‘ for murmuration. And as you may have guessed, I’m really rather fond of starlings!
Totally fascinating and I can imagine how noisy they are from the pictures. Love how you captured the squabbling.
photowannabe´s last blog ..ABC WEDNESDAY LETTER " M "
I love starlings too Jay – they are so argumentative they make me laugh. Great pictures. A x
Strawberry Jam Anne´s last blog ..Just Popping in
collective nouns and adjective forms of birds are utterly fascinating!
You can almost see the noise in these pictures. Excellent.
Anthony North´s last blog ..WE’RE SOMETHING
A murmation? What a wonderful word, doesn’t it just trip off the tongue? You photographs are absolutely amazing – beautiful! I guess you are still gadding about and having a whale of a time, but don’t forget to hurry back with oodles of pic’s – we’re missing you!
shrinky´s last blog ..Camelot Rap
O my these are the most amazing set of photos I’ve seen in a while and I’ve seen a lot – get a lot of starlings around here – they even fight the pigeons in town.
Gerald´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday – M is for Mayfield Station
Those birds are moving – and thanks for adding to my vocabulary!
Amy´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday – M is for Minestrone
Amazing photos! Amazing!
Looks like the birds are in the MIDDLE of a quarrel / fight!
Jama´s last blog ..Friday My Town Shoot Out: Sunrise/sunset
Greats photos Jay! What a rabble they must be!
Hope you are having a great trip.
Maureen´s last blog ..Naked
Looks like the starlings are rather fond of you too…at least of the food you put out for them.
EG Wow!´s last blog ..Free Week/ Photo Hunter
What great pictures. LOVE them! I first thought it was going to be about magpies! : )
I had no idea this was called a murmuration. Thanks for educating this old girl today!
ethelmaepotter´s last blog ..Triangle of Love, Starring…Willadean?
Photowannabe – Thanks! When you’re taking backyard pictures of starlings, it’s hard NOT to capture them squabbling! LOL!
SJ Anne – I’m glad someone else loves starlings too! Yep, they are certainly amusing!
Roger Green – I’ve always liked collective nouns, and this is one of my favourites.
Anthony North – Ha! Yes, indeed! So noisy, you can even see it in the pictures.
Shrinky – Thank you! We actually have a great connection here in Moab, but Utah’s incredibly beautiful National Parks are beckoning. It’s really only in the evening between eating and sleeping that I get to log on, or a short while in the morning.
I will be back though!
Gerald – Thanks! I’ve never seen them fight anything else, but I have seen one face down a jackdaw. Sheer cheek, but the jackdaw flew away. Not a peck was exchanged though!
Amy – Thanks! I love watching them.
Tumblewords – Thanks!
Jama – That’s exaxtly right – they were!
Maureen – Thank you, yes we are! I love the desert states, though I doubt I would in summer.
EG Wow! – They are .. but they’re going to be pretty upset with us right now, since we’re not there to feed them!
Life with Kaishon – Thanks! No, not magpies. I have yet to get a good picture of those.
Ethelmaepotter – Glad to be of service!
Murmuration? Again a word I didn’t know! Brilliant account of a group of starlings with great photos! We have plenty of starlings too and many murmurations of course.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Reader Wil´s last blog ..Bench of the Week My daughter on a bench in New Zealand!
you got the best chattery pictures ha ha !!Wonde what Sid is thinking
What superb photos Jay! I wish I could take photos like that. I’ve learned a new work, murmuration. That’s so good and sounds like the sort of noise me and my sisters make when we all get together! Have a lovely holiday and come home safely. I’m sorry I haven’t visited your ‘pitch’ for a while but we have had a great sadness here. You can read about it on my blog when you get time
granny grimble´s last blog ..FAREWELL TO A VERY SPECIAL PERSON
Sorry I meant WORD not work.
granny grimble´s last blog ..FAREWELL TO A VERY SPECIAL PERSON
That top photo is hilarious! What a scolding!
)
Hope you’re having a wonderful time!
petra michelle´s last blog ..COLUMBUS MEETS JACK SPARROW — An Encore Presentation
ReaderWil – Thanks! I’m thinking ‘murmuration’ only really works at a distance, when that’s exactly what starlings sound like .. a constant murmuring. Close up, it’s really more like a fierce argument!
Sandy – I was wondering what Sid was thinking yesterday. OH and I thought perhaps he’d decided he’d been returned to his old life and thought ‘Oh – that didn’t last long, did it?’ LOL! Hopefully he’ll forgive us when we get back.
Granny – I haven’t had time to visit other blogs either, being so busy enjoying myself on holiday, but I popped over and took a look and I’m so sorry for your loss. What a tragedy.
Petra – You’re right, there is a scolding going on, but it’s from the baby starling demanding to be fed! LOL!
What intense little birds! I love their excitement level!
Jenny´s last blog ..Half & Half & Half
Jenny – They surely are intense! It’s one of the things I like about them!
Thanks for dropping in – I’ll be back home in a week and normal blogging will resume!
Great pics. You know it’s funny, but I was reading an article a few weeks back about how starlings that were introduced here in the US became a nuisance, as they tended to push other native bird out of their habitats.
Mr. Nighttime´s last blog ..Tis’ grand…