6/19/2006: Sparrow flocks in Denmark
 

http://cellar.org/2006/sparrowflock1.jpg

Today's Earth Science Picture of the Day highlights 16 shots of these flocks of European Sparrows in Denmark. I've highlighted only these two so as to claim fair use, or something.

Flocks of millions of these birds make formations... but only during a few weeks of the year, and only a half hour before sunset. So many of the birds are in the sky that, at certain times, they block out the sun... thus the name of the phenomenon: "Black Sun".

http://cellar.org/2006/sparrowflock2.jpg

Didn't some horror movie have this as a premise? I'm thinking a Vin Diesel vehicle but I could be wrong..."Pitch Black"?

wow...cool. oooh ahhh That beats the humongous dragonflies I saw yesterday. I thought they looked weird. That is just phenominal looking.

It looks amazing! Wow!

I love these shots.

[quote=Undertoad So many of the birds are in the sky that, at certain times, they block out the sun... thus the name of the phenomenon: "Black Sun".
[/QUOTE]
And what do the call the area *beneath* the formations? "White Grass"?

Yikes - searching Google Images for "black sun" denmark is not recommended...

I've seen London birds flocking in the same way, also just before sunset. The most amazing part was how the entire flock would dive into a tree at full speed and disappear, presumably all perched on twigs. Then 10 seconds later they would all zoom out of the tree at full speed in one mass, do a few crazy high-speed turns still all as one unit, and then dive into another tree at full speed. They repeated this dance over and over, every time with a different route. It was fantastic to watch.

I remember hearing about presentations about how similar phenomenon happened in the US (a long time ago?) with a particular species of bird. But since you could pretty much aim a gun up and shoot to get a free bird dinner, they went extinct.

One can take the same 'Wow' picture and see the arrival of a new black plague - bird flu. Same picture. Different perspective.

It goes both ways. A week or so ago, my son and I were leaning out a window, watching the world go by. I felt a sneeze coming and let it loose just as a bird flew by. I couldn't have timed it better if I tried. He laughed and laughed. A genuine belly laugh. I didn't know 4 year old could laugh that way. I thought it was pretty funny too. I totally nailed that bird with snot.:)

I think UT's second picture looks like a butterfly net.

And this flock has balls.;)

Wasn't able to find a pic but here in Vacouver at the begining of dusk you can see a murder of crows about the same width in the sky as shown here but the 'flock' stretches from downtown to the suburb of Burnaby (approx 15 miles). It happens every evening as sort of a mini-migration from the parks and docks to a bird sanctuary. (Located right next to the largest McDonalds in the Lower Mainland!)

Better have an umbrella is all I can say......