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標題: [瞬間看地球] 椋鳥瞬間變陣型 化身巨鳥抗遊隼 [打印本頁]

作者: vandas    時間: 2012-5-17 05:27 AM     標題: 椋鳥瞬間變陣型 化身巨鳥抗遊隼

Now that's a big bird! Flock of thousands of starlings creates intimidating shapes to scare off prowling falcon

* Amazing spectacle took place in the sky   above Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve in Somerset
  
At first glance it looks like a huge bird travelling across the sky.

But this is, in fact, a flock of starlings flying in formation at a Somerset nature reserve.

The 'fantastic', not to mention appropriate, shape came about due to the threat of a nearby Peregrine Falcon.


Big bird: A flock of starlings flies in formation in the sky above Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve in Somerset

Once the flock had spotted the predator, it quickly grouped together and inadvertently mimicked the appearance of a giant bird.

When a hungry predator hovers nearby, the birds must converge, flocking together, in an attempt to confuse the hunter, whether it be a sparrowhawk, buzzard or Peregrine Falcons.

These incredible pictures were taken by an amateur photographer at Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve.

Rob Wolstenholme had travelled to the beauty spot specifically to shoot starlings as the area is well known for them.

The 51-year-old, himself the manager of a nature reserve in the Cotswolds, said: 'Normally starlings fly in loose and dispersed flocks. But with the Peregrine Falcon circling around them they bunched together and coordinated and acted as one.

'I suppose it is some kind of predatory avoidance strategy, because it will make it more difficult for the falcon to pick out one starling.'


'Fantastic': The appropriate shape came about due to the threat of a nearby Peregrine Falcon

The mass of birds remained in formation for about 15 minutes until the falcon ceased its pursuit and the starlings scattered.

Mr Wolstenholme, from Great Somerford, Wiltshire, added: 'I only realised how good the picture was when I looked back at it.

'I was just trying to compose a shot without any branches sticking out in the corner, then I found I had got that.

'I've never seen anything like it before - it's fantastic.'

Scientists recently discovered the secret behind starlings' amazing spatial awareness.

When they flock together, each starling tracks seven other birds - irrespective of distance - which produces the group's aerial ballet.

Eventually, in late spring, birds pair off and look for suitable nesting grounds.
They will not regroup until September, when their amazing daily display will begin again.


Sky at night: Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve is well known for its starling population


Amateur photographer Rob Wolstenholme (left) had travelled to the beauty spot specifically to shoot starlings. The formation came about due to the presence of a Peregrine Falcon (right)
作者: vandas    時間: 2012-5-17 05:29 AM

雀仔合體  扮巨雀嚇敵

一群椋鳥為對抗兇猛的遊隼,竟瞬間排列陣型,化身成一隻正展翅飛翔的巨鳥。牠們維持陣型約15分鐘,直至遊隼離開,才分散開來。

51歲的英國業餘攝影師Rob Wolstenholme,在Shapwick Heath國家自然保育區內,目睹這一幕奇景,並將之拍攝下來。正在Cotswolds自然保育區任職經理的他表示,椋鳥一般是分散飛行的,但當遇見遊隼,牠們便會立即排列出像一隻巨鳥的陣型。他認為這是一種防禦策略,讓遊隼無法攻擊任何一隻椋鳥。

最近有科學家發現了椋鳥能列陣的秘密,原來當集體飛行時,每隻椋鳥會追踪7隻同伴,幫忙拼湊出巨鳥陣型。                    

Sharp Daily

作者: tonbo93    時間: 2012-5-20 10:59 PM

太神奇了!




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