秋季在湿地上空迁徙的椋鸟群
秋季在湿地上空迁徙的椋鸟群 (© Viking/Alamy)
物以类聚(Birds of a feather flocking together)
在秋天和春天,成千上万的人来到丹麦和德国之间的瓦登海沼泽地,观看成群结队的迁徙椋鸟在日落时飞翔。这些鸟以一种叫作“咕哝”的群集行为来同步它们的动作。它们一个接一个地俯冲、移动和转弯,在天空中创造出令人难以置信的形状。丹麦人称这种现象为“sort sol”,或黑太阳。描述也很贴切。椋鸟群可以如此浓密,以至于似乎使夜晚的天空变得昏暗。专家认为,咕哝声是对鹰和其他猛禽的一种防御,也可能是当气温下降时,鸟类保持温暖的一种方式。无论是什么原因导致了它们迷人、起伏的动作,有一件事是不可否认的——椋鸟上演了一场惊艳的表演。
原文:
In the fall and spring, thousands of people come to the marshlands of the Wadden Sea, between Denmark and Germany, to watch huge flocks of migrating starlings take flight at sunset. The birds synchronise their movements in a flocking behaviour called a murmuration. They swoop, shift, and turn as one, creating incredible shapes in the sky. The Danes call this phenomenon 'sort sol,' or black sun. And the description's apt. The starling flocks can be so thick they appear to darken the evening skies. Experts believe murmuration is a defense against hawks and other raptors, or it could also be a way for the birds to stay warm as temperatures dip. Whatever the reason for their mesmerising, undulating movements, one thing is undeniable – the starlings put on a stunning show.
《© Viking/Alamy》