Be careful where you stand when watching the starlings
Published: Wed, 02/27/19
It may be the very warm weather but we are already seeing the murmurations of Starlings over our garden. I am not talking about massive numbers of birds but I am pretty sure there are several hundred birds at a time whirling and circling around the sky. If you have never witnessed this phenomenon then it will be quite difficult to imagine. The starlings come together to fly in groups. The groups are made up of individual birds and yet the formations they create take on a form of their own. There may be two, three or even four groups flying around the sky at once, then they will blend together to create one huge formation for a few moments and then some of the birds will split off and create a smaller pattern again. There is no leader or organisation to be seen and yet the birds fly close to one another in almost circular patterns. The birds seem to be flying close enough to one another to touch wingtips and yet they do not ever
seem to collide with one another. There are good pictures and video clips of murmurations online, but nothing beats seeing them flying directly overhead in a sunset sky. However, you do need to be careful of not standing directly under the flock or you will get dumped on. My shed is covered with little white spots and you can hear the metal pinging as the droppings hit the roof.
Why do starlings fly together in the way they do? There is plenty of speculation regarding protection from predators or hunting for insects to eat. But no one really knows. I guess the starlings do it because they can and I expect it is their idea of fun.
Is there anything to learn from watching such a phenomena? I don’t think it does any harm to accept that there are some things which we just don’t understand. Speculation on animal behaviour is fine so long as we don’t mistake our theories for proven facts. Our own motivations and behaviour are often a mystery to us. We would do well to know ourselves better before thinking that we can explain the collective consciousness of Starlings.
However, I believe that a murmuration of Starlings does reflect the nature of the universe we live in. The flight of the birds is unpredictable and constantly changing. Yet the circumstances of a murmuration are very specific. Only Starlings participate, I have yet to see another species of bird such as a pigeon or seagull join in. I doubt that they would be welcome if they tried. The way that the birds congregate and fly is instantly recognisable as a murmuration even though the actual patterns they create are infinitely varied and impossible to predict.
Starling behaviour is both highly predictable and randomly creative at the same time. I have written before about the word Ergodic, which means following certain predictable rules while allowing for freedom and creativity. Without being consciously aware of it that is exactly what the Starlings demonstrate when they come together.
We have the same experience within our own lives. A great deal about the universe and our own nature is reliable and predictable. For this we can be grateful. Yet within this consistency we have the freedom to create according to our opportunities, inspiration, vision and talents. The universe is not so random that it makes no sense, neither are we caught in a fixed destiny which grants us no freedom to be creative. The certainty provided by the Orlog (ur-laug or primary law) of the universe is just a secure foundation on which to build our dreams. Another example of the orlog in nature is the way that each species of tree grows to provide something different from other species. Ash, oak, pine, beech and birch all produce wood that have very different characteristics from one another. A craftsman in wood will select the timber best suited to his or her creative purpose. Why are there so many different trees? I have no idea but
I do know that we can learn to know each species and what its wood is most useful for.
Come on the Runes and Trees Retreat and you will be reminded how the Orlog reveals itself in each tree and in the woodland environment which the trees create. You will learn some specific skills too but the most valuable lesson will be in just seeing how nature grows according to the Orlog and how we can work with it too.
Last day of the early booking discount tomorrow and I only seem to have three places left anyway. So, if you are serious about coming don’t delay. http://rr.stavcamp.org/
regards
Graham
PS Training next month in Beverley if you just want a Saturday morning seminar. Training with the cudgel/walking stick on the 23rd of March http://iceandfire.org.uk/train.html