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November 3, 2011 4:37 PM

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"Murmuration" shows a fascinating and rare phenomena in nature

By: Will Goodman
Topics: Animal Antics

(CBS) - The phenomena of "murmuration", when huge flocks of birds ("starlings" to be exact) in migration form shape-shifting flight patterns, is a truly amazing wonder to behold. So let's all watch it happen in the video above. The phenomena gets phenomenal at about 50 seconds into the clip.

The video was posted by Vimeo user Sophie Windsor Clive who writes about the experience:

A chance encounter and shared moment with one of natures greatest and most fleeting phenomena.

A spectacular sight to watch unfold - thank you so much to Sophie for sharing this wonderful video with us and the world!

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by valopinion December 20, 2011 11:49 AM EST: I found this to be incredible and VERY enjoyable, though some people need to lighten up! Geez!; Reply to this comment


by rwsmith29456 November 7, 2011 11:56 AM EST: This isn't rare. Several times a years I see flocking birds performing this way. What is rare is how spectacular these examples are. And they are spectacular.; Reply to this comment


by birdguy69 November 6, 2011 4:13 PM EST: You guys should do a little rudimentary research . . . even just accessing a dictionary would help. This phenomenon is not a 'murmuration' -- murmurmation is the collective noun used to describe a flock of starlings. It is impossible to determine from the video if those are the actual birds being shown, but it is possible based on the location. Murmuration was a sweetly poetic way of naming the video, kudos to the filmer. But shame on CBS and all the other news media who have just made a giant assumption about the meaning of the word. As others have pointed out, this is not a rare event. In the southern and central US, where hordes of thousands of blackbirds gather in the winter, these flights can be easily seen. It is the film of the event that is rare. Again thanks to the filmer, and drats on the media for screwing a simple and beautiful story.; Reply to this comment

by OrangPuteh November 6, 2011 1:05 PM EST

WONDERFUL!

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by sugarmom9533 November 6, 2011 9:41 PM EST: AMAZING!

by prairiefire101 November 6, 2011 8:50 AM EST

Not a rare scene out in the country where birds flock in the fields and on the lakes. We see this frequently and it is always cool to watch awesome coordination. This one is a really big flock and a great video thanks for sharing it.

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by judyblueeyes November 6, 2011 5:33 PM EST: I was going to say, this isn't rare. I've seen it a lot in Oklahoma and Texas.

by ddavids November 6, 2011 8:38 AM EST

It's phenomenon, not phenomena.

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by StephsGirl13 November 6, 2011 10:50 AM EST: Thank you - that was the first thing I noticed, too!


by erzkarlaspern November 6, 2011 12:43 PM EST: You are correct. The singular is "phenomenon", the plural can be either the anglicized "phenomenons" or the Greek neuter plural "phenomena". This is similar to singular "criterion" and plural "criterions" or "criteria", which is wrongly used by many as singular.


by Perroaero November 6, 2011 4:25 AM EST: Hollywood special effects, even at their best, pale beside the true and miraculous beauty of the simplest aspects of nature. We should all try to take more opportunities to see the real magic in the nature around us.; Reply to this comment


by taxchurches November 5, 2011 6:32 PM EDT: Would have been more impressive without the stupid behavior of the humans in the video.; Reply to this comment

by sealessnlv November 5, 2011 4:09 AM EDT

that was AWESOME! I envy those girls but their reaction made the video all the better...i do believe they were spooked! lol i might of been breathless for a moment but what a phenomenal gift from mother! Thanks for sharing ladies!

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by Westy350 November 6, 2011 10:41 PM EST: ....you might HAVE been breathless for a moment. NOT 'might OF been'. Sorry - sicko grammar snob.


by inmaryland1 November 4, 2011 6:15 PM EDT: Not so rare out here in the country...but not as nice as that one!; Reply to this comment

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