Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Every year tens of thousands of starlings have been putting on mesmerising show as they gather for their murmurations in Gretna, south of Scotland.
The area of Dumfries and Galloway is one of the most well-known locations for this natural phenomenon.
Many keen birds watchers from across the UK are attracted to the spectacle and very often help with the records of birds sigthting.
The flocks can get as big as 100, 000 birds and shape-shift in the sky in very coordinated movements as if they were one swirling mass.
It is believed that one of the main reasons why starlings gather for the murmurations is presence of their predators like a hawks or falcons, and the flocks movements are based mailny on evasive maneuvers.
The most fascinating is how thousends of birds are able to change direction almost simultaneously, trying to avoid the raptors. The individual starlings do not spread, but rather move as an intelligent flock, feinting away from diving birds of prey.
Although often seen in their thousands starlings have suffered a dramatic population decline in recent years. Once a common sight in both urban and rural areas of Britain, starling numbers have dropped by more than 90% in woodlands.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments