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Merhlin — The Starling
#starling
Published: 2015-02-22 21:53:14 +0000 UTC; Views: 433; Favourites: 47; Downloads: 8
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Description
Considered by many as pests and "ugly" birds, even the lowly starling can have its moment of glory if caught in the right light. Also, more often than not, its the starlings that form those wonderful murmurations.
Actually this bird is pretty intelligent vocally as well, I'm told.
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Comments: 21
Yes, caught in the right light they can be beautiful indeed.
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it's a beautiful bird, a victim of stupid prejudices, like many other animals, alas
Great photo
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Thank you! 
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Agree that the humble starling is an unfairly maligned bird. They have been very successful at adapting to the urban environment and they are rewarded by being chased off or culled. The murmurations are fantastic, and I understand that the way they change shape so quickly and in concert is still not understood completely..
Lovely shot.
David
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A murmuration has a kind of "group consciousness." They literally become one.
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Wow this is beautiful! I never noticed starlings have so much color in their feathers before!
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Yes. Thank you. Here I believe what embellishes the photo is the fact that the bird is fluffing its feathers to build layers of trapped air for warmth. (But I'm no expert on why they do this. It was very cold and snowy.)
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Yes the fluffing does make the photo more interesting and makes the markings on the feathers stand out more.
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Thanks Dennis. I love the surprises that come with shooting in nature. This guy came from nowhere and didn't stay long. Sometimes photos you think will surely be great turn-out disappointing. I had no hopes or expectations with this one. I only got the one shot. Lucked out.
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Bless you Ruth. I appreciate your comments and friendship. You're such a talented photographer.
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Thanks! I only got this one shot and it turned-out pretty nice.
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