Every now and then the best thing happens, usually off in the distance. Often in rush-hour traffic. Or here, over this expansive wetland prairie on the western edge of Franklin County. A swirling mass of birds appears from out of nowhere, undulating across the sky in mesmerizing unison.
Most commonly observed in European starlings, murmuration is unquestionably one of nature’s best shows. This stunning avian display is unpredictable, always joyous.
Murmurations are thought to be an almost involuntary protective response to an imminent predatory threat, like a nearby hawk. Collective action in motion — potentially a poignant, powerful metaphor.
But I will just let birds be birds and delight in this murmuration for what it is to me: unexpected magic infused into an otherwise ordinary moment. Serendipity in the sky.
Have a Bright Spot to share? Send it to Managing Editor Julia Lerner (lernerj@denison.edu). Tell us about the moment that made you smile in under 200 words, and try to include a photograph. We’ll add it to our growing list of Bright Spots on TheReportingProject.org!