Strange behavior of birds (New York)

i found this interesting, if short. a weird bunched-up flock of birds caught on video. wasn't sure where this should go so put it here. mods please move if incorrectly placed

a reply to: RoScoLaz4

It is when they are getting ready to migrate I think.

I have seen this in the UK a few times and it is an amazing experience although a little unsettling at first.

a reply to: nonspecific

cool, thanks NS the sort of 'horizontal spiral' pattern was what i found most interesting

At least birdies are still alive. Hope it's more a mental thing than physical.

Sea life is suffering big time. Kinda sad and I don't even like fishes, crabs stuff like that. But also bigger animals like sea lions are affected

a reply to: RoScoLaz4

Its when they are about to roost for the night. Over here in the UK starlings do this . One of nature's best and most magnificent sights, the starlings form into sweeping ball like shapes in their thousands, sometimes hundreds of thousands before flying down and roosting in the trees. A great spectacle to watch. Its called a murmuration.

a reply to: RoScoLaz4

google : murmuration .

its a fascinating behaviour - but not strange

a reply to: ignorant_ape

that's it! thanks

European Starlings. They're flocking here in upstate new york/Saugerties these days, even way out in the woods. The eat a lot of caterpillars and such but that makes life hard for our native species, like bluebirds (;-[

originally posted by: Namdru
European Starlings. They're flocking here in upstate new york/Saugerties these days, even way out in the woods. The eat a lot of caterpillars and such but that makes life hard for our native species, like bluebirds (;-[

Bloody immigrants, coming over and stealing your resources.....sorry, wrong thread!

As others have noted, they look like Starlings and it is one of natures most wonderful sights. Consider yourselves very lucky to be able to witness it.

a reply to: RoScoLaz4

I stand corrected.

I assumed that given the time of year I had obseverved the phonomona it was due to them gathering to migrate as opposed to the numbers bieng due to other migratory birds joining in.

wow thats pretty neat!..ive noticed here in scotland that the seagulls are coming more inland, and ive been woken up several times at them sqwaking at as late as 2 am while they are huddled on roof tops, i hadnt noticed this years ago, im wondering if perhaps their food source is scarce on the coast which is why they have come inland, and they are attaking the smaller birds like the sparrows etc, if theres anyone else in the UK who has noticed this please tell me im not demented lol

A flock like that visits our back yard on their migration both ways twice every year.

That is a kind of interesting, almost spiral pattern though..makes you wonder if it was intentional.

a reply to: kellyjay

You're not going mad..was only talking about this the other day. Been woken by seagulls squabbling with other birds very early as have other members of family. They are coming inland and getting very aggressive.
I actually read about a bank using one of it's staff to stand outside with an umbrella and escort customers to their cars to avoid the seagulls.
A funny article in the Mirror I found: www.mirror.co.uk...

And another not so funny: www.mirror.co.uk...

a reply to: RoScoLaz4

Stupid Starlings they Crap on Everything Carry Disease.
They have been hard to Control in Many Places in The US.
Nasty Critters

originally posted by: sueloujo
a reply to: kellyjay

You're not going mad..was only talking about this the other day. Been woken by seagulls squabbling with other birds very early as have other members of family. They are coming inland and getting very aggressive.
I actually read about a bank using one of it's staff to stand outside with an umbrella and escort customers to their cars to avoid the seagulls.
A funny article in the Mirror I found: www.mirror.co.uk...

And another not so funny: www.mirror.co.uk...

yeah they are brazen as hell, and also really annoying! but they are a protected species so it looks like we might be bloody stuck with them lol

originally posted by: nonspecific
a reply to: RoScoLaz4

I stand corrected.

I assumed that given the time of year I had obseverved the phonomona it was due to them gathering to migrate as opposed to the numbers bieng due to other migratory birds joining in.

I think it does have to do with them getting ready to migrate as it always happens in the late summer and fall months. During the rest of the year, they are spread out in pairs caring for chicks and thus more territorial. When they gather like this, they are done with that. No more youngsters. So they are getting ready to load up and feast until they have to head out.

a reply to: kellyjay

Big misconception with Seagulls, mostly due to the name (which is bloody stupid, considering). Most gulls aren't actually sea birds, they are land birds and are scavengers. You actually see the largest bodies (as in amounts rather than size of individuals) of gulls at land fill sites.

You do also get "sea" gulls but they tend to be different species of gulls (like the Mackerel gull). But the black headed ones (most common in the UK) are not sea birds.

Try this: RSPB

originally posted by: Flavian
a reply to: kellyjay

Big misconception with Seagulls, mostly due to the name (which is bloody stupid, considering). Most gulls aren't actually sea birds, they are land birds and are scavengers. You actually see the largest bodies (as in amounts rather than size of individuals) of gulls at land fill sites.

You do also get "sea" gulls but they tend to be different species of gulls (like the Mackerel gull). But the black headed ones (most common in the UK) are not sea birds.

Try this: RSPB

yeah ive never seen a black headed gull here, these are all coastal gulls, if you look at the link here, this is the common gull thats coming inland and these ones are actually supposed to be on the coast and they are BIG lol www.mirror.co.uk...

a reply to: Flavian

I work at a lot of outdoor music festivals clearing the site and we leave all the food waste thet people drop on the floor so the gulls eat it and save it from landfill.

They circle around in huge numbers waiting for us to finish before clearing up the job. We actually refer to them as the Ariel crew and are considered an important part of the team!

a reply to: kellyjay

Yeah, the Herring Gulls. They aren't really sea birds either though, just another type of scavenging gull. They live everywhere but traditionally near water. These days, they aren't so picky!

The Common Gulls are actually the smaller relation, particularly to the Herring Gulls.

To the OP:

Although still bird related, sorry for going off on a tangent. Birds are actually fabuluous creatures and i have to be honest enough to say that usually i completely take them for granted and pay not attention whatsoever. If the starling flocks you are witnessing continue to grow, you really are in for a treat.