Watch: Thousands of birds fly in unison and in complex patterns near Mascoutah

BND photojournalist Derik Holtmann recently captured images of a huge flock of birds flying in unison before sunset near Illinois 4 in Mascoutah.

A gigantic flock of birds is a familiar site around rural areas of our region, especially in colder parts of the year. When the birds fly together and move in complex patterns, it is known as a murmuration, usually involving a flock of starlings. (We don’t know if these were starlings, but they could have been. )

Experts often attribute these movements to birds avoiding predators; there are other theories too.

If you want to read more about murmurations, you start with reviewing articles from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

In the meantime, watch Derik Holtmann’s video on his visit to the Mascoutah area: