Monday night, Husband and I were sitting on the stoep after work, when we noticed a very populous flock of birds flying southwest over our neighborhood. They were pretty high flyers, but appeared to be blackbirds of some sort.
it soon became apparent that there were tremendous numbers of birds overhead. The line of flyers went on and on for almost 20 minutes, and we estimated that there must have been at least a thousand birds in the flock. I can’t imagine why so many of them were travelling together like that. I don’t think it was coincidence that only a few hours after they flew over, we started to get smoke from northern and western fires.
I can’t imagine where such a large number of birds would land to get water and food. They would need a huge forest of trees to roost in. I am not sure where blackbirds go for the winter, but I hope there is room for them all.
What are some of the more amazing natural phenomena you have witnessed? Seeing many migratory birds now?
Trail Baboon 
It was over 50 years ago. I was in the Army, stationed at Ft. McClellan, Alabama. It must have been early winter. There were large (tens of thousands) flocks or flights or something of black birds that decided some of the woods at the post were great places to hang about. Lots of birds in the trees means a deep layer of what birds “do” underneath. The Army, which had access to lots of helicopters and spraying experience from agent orange in southeast Asia, sprayed a detergent solution on the birds. They then froze to death.
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That’s sad.
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Wow.
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Those clouds of birds are mermurations. They are being studied by scientists wishing to learn why the birds don’t collide with one another with a possible application to autonomous vehicles.
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We all have seen ice form. It’s so common that it’s easy to forget the miracle of it. I had a chemistry teacher who called it just that, a miracle.
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The birds we saw were in a steady stream that went on and on, not a mermeration. I just found that photo and thought it would make a good header.
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I love the term “murmuration”. It’s evocative, like susurrus, though not onomatopoetic.
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And a Merman-esque sounding word. I still miss those “Merman Alerts” on the LGMS! Speaking of a natural wonder, did you know she had a disco album? Or maybe this is unnatural. But really?
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Who was the bigger loser in that association, I wonder- Merman or disco?
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😏
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Once when Daughter and I were driving to Bismarck in the spring we saw three whooping cranes flying low on their way north.
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Northern lights are something I’m sure many of us have seen – though given that I have lived my entire life in Minnesota, I have not seen them as often as others might expect (being a city kid, I can’t do like my aunt does and walk out her backdoor to see them). Saw them this summer when I was up near Brainerd and was outside in the wee hours to watch the Perseid meteor shower (the Perseids appeared to shoot through the aurora in some places – it was stunning).
Closer to home I am amazed every year with what comes back in my gardens. I garden by benign neglect and always have a few plants of the sort that die back completely at the end of a season that I am convinced are now really and truly dead… and then they start to show green shoots. There is always the game in the spring of “plant or weed”… but the ones that are actual plants that will later bloom after taking a long winter’s nap. Like ice forming, it’s kind of miraculous.
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Rise and Shine, Baboons,
A week ago there was a lot of birds in our Mountain Ash tree which is filled with red, ripe berries. The action was happening there–chirping, fighting, flitting. The birds appeared to be blue. Blue birds? Yes indeed! Blue birds tend to be very shy, and I have seen many, but it is usually just a glimpse. But last Friday an adolescent blue bird which was still molting came up to the deck and just sat there for a long time. This went on for three or four days, then they disappeared, and goldfinches took over. Now things are quiet with just a few varied birds going in and out of the tree now.
I have never observed that many bluebirds. It was lovely.
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Well, one is the moon. I never tire of seeing it appear in all its different shapes and shades. Our full moon group still get together on the Wagon Bridge over on Latsch Island, most months, to watch full moonrise.
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And then everything seems to have a design. Frost forming on windows in the dead of winter – like an exquisite painting…
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Songbirds have been migrating since the end of August. I think when you see huge flocks like that, they’re a mix of many species. It’s likely they were getting away from the fires and decided, as one mind, that they might as well head south. Even a cornfield can serve as an overnight rest stop for blackbirds. Many songbirds have already gone, such as warblers. Goldfinches and other finches stay all winter. I just got up to Two Harbors. There’s a robin still hanging around here.
I’ve seen the northern lights on several occasions. I’m really hoping to see them while I’m up here. I’ve seen ice fogs on several occasions, sun dogs, and the thing that’s like a halo around the sun (Bill will know the word for it). I’ve heard the thick ice on a frozen lake cracking like rifle shots at night in January when the air temperature is down below zero. I’ve heard trees doing the same, and you wonder how they can survive it. I’ve also seen the so-called “sea smoke” up here on Lake Superior.
Today there’s fog here. It’s cooler here than up on the hill or south of Duluth. There’s been a fog coming in on the east wind all day. It’s really windy and the lake is rolling, prompting swimming warnings. The temp is 66, but it’s really humid. I think of all the amazements I’ve ever seen, most of them have been up here.
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It’s called a sun halo.
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Thanks! I thought there was a more scientific name for it.
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Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
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And there’s birdsong in general, especially the warblers Krista mentions.
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And then if you look very closely at the inside of almost any flower.
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Many years ago now, the first time I visited Maui I talked to the client into doing the bike ride down Haleakala. This means leaving the hotel at 3 AM and driving approximately 2 1/2 hours to get to the top. It’s still dark and it’s cold up there. Far colder than you’re dressed for if you’ve packed for your typical trip to Maui. (We were given jumpsuits to put on over our clothing, but they didn’t help much.). But I still remember when the sun came up over the crater of the mountain — like it happened yesterday. Breathtaking is the best word that I can come up with for it.
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When YA and I visited Maui in 2022, I tried valiantly to talk her into doing this bike ride, (which I’ve actually done three times now). She wasn’t even remotely interested. Sigh.
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And then there’s that whole fibonacci spiral thing..
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In my world, the birds have been a bit quiet lately. The cardinals are still vocal, of course. Then I hear the quiet muttering of a nuthatch. Maybe it is complaining about its obstreperous blue jay neighbors.
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