A school of blackbirds

One of my favorite  sights is the crazy blackbird flight school offered each Spring as hundreds or thousands of birds launch into flight together, wheeling and turning in unison.  We have a very healthy stand of bamboo grown from a few starts given to us 20 odd years ago by our friend Joe.  That little … Read more

Social space for birds

Birds, like us, seem to want to keep some social distance. Is there anything  complicated to it, or are they just leaving enough room to take off?  Why is the spacing wider on the neutral (top) phase than on the far phase?  What’s the story with the guy off by himself?