“The study of murmurations is part of a larger field of study called ‘swarm intelligence’ or ‘collective animal behavior’ – the spontaneous, synchronous movement of schools of fish, herds of mammals, swarms of bees or locusts, and other animal groups. The property of a higher order arising out of seeming randomness is a phenomenon called ’emergence,’ and numerous scientists are trying to get to the bottom of it… One researcher who specializes in the study of animal swarms believes that the dance of the dunlins, and other flocks, may be a product of, as well as generate, what is called metacognition, a collective mind that is much bigger and smarter than the sum of its parts.”
From THE WONDER OF BIRDS by Jim Robbins
“A drunken fingerprint rolling across the sky.”
Richard Wilbur
From the beach, suddenly, entrancement!
We call out, point, freeze in our shoes
our warm hats and jackets, as the day wanes
and against its steel grey background, a cloud
of swallows like a spray of buckshot swoops low
to the water, changes direction and color,
black to white, hundreds of tiny simultaneous
impulses flipping like the snap of a Venetian blind
and they are off, swirling behind us up the beach
as we tip our heads back, mesmerized: metacognition,
iron filings pulled around the sky by an invisible
magnet: One Mind. There is some kind of joy
in what we can’t explain, how they do not bang
their bodies together and fall, how they know
when to turn, lift, flip, no long-necked leader
honking at the apex of a V, and anyway no time;
in 15 milliseconds they alter course, bank and dive
as one enormous being. Our mouths open grinning,
incredulous, not knowing how to believe in
something that we feel
but cannot possibly know.
Are we sure they did not do this for the pure joy of it, much like the poets voice, the music all around them as they danced.
Thanks for always being supportive and commenting, John. We appreciate it.
Great response to an unfathomable, joyous experience! A marvel itself.
I’ve looked down from high buildings at the rows and rows of cars steaming down and up stree s, floeinf left, flownf right, a smooth steady stream, marveling that in each car, a consciousness with a destination, a plan for this streaming that too looks like a single enormous being.
Wow! Love this poem!
“iron filings pulled around the sky by an invisible
magnet: One Mind.”–
What a wonderful way to describe this phenomenon of the movement of a flock of birds !
Lovely poem! Still, I was educated in the school of Ecology that insists that “a herd of fleet deer” and “a fleet herd of deer” are not necessarily the same thing.
Fabulous poem (of course), intriguing info, and gorgeous and graceful live illustration! I’ve seen blackbirds do this but hadn’t understood the practical reason for this spectacular aerial performance. Thank you for this education and inspiration.
Beautiful, Gail. My friend, the drummer Dougie Bowne, has a series of short music videos which he posts on instagram, dougiebowne, called murmurations, very exquisite, meditative, nature-responsive musical interludes.
I’ve wanted to experience a murmuration in person for many years but have never been able to witness it. This poem expresses so well what I feel when watching the video of the murmuration, the incredulity of such synchronicity, and “not knowing how to believe in/something that we feel/but cannot possibly know.” Strauss’s waltz on the video fits the bird’s movement so beautifully, and is a wonderful companion piece to the poem.
Thank you for your kind words. I am sure the author will appreciate the close reading.
Beautiful. Love this one.