I have only very recently been privileged to see my first starling murmuration. My first experience was at RSPB Newport Wetlands a few weeks ago, followed by a gorgeous murmuration at sunset in Cardiff Bay and if I’m perfectly honest, I didn’t realise just how breathtaking this natural phenomenon is. The poet Richard Wilbur once described a murmuration as a ‘drunken fingerprint across the sky’ which paints a pretty accurate picture. But to me it was slightly more than this. As I watched the starlings move in unison, I was struck by how much of a group effort this was, with each member of the team artistically playing its part in this dance across the pink sky.
I recently accompanied my Giving Nature a Home in Cardiff colleagues on a visit to Cardiff Bay Wetlands in order to thank and celebrate the achievements of our dedicated volunteers - and what a great way to celebrate! We arrived late afternoon, adorned with festive tinsel, and warmed up on some hot chocolate ready to enjoy some mince pies and magical murmurations! The group ranged from long standing volunteers to a younger generation who were equally passionate about enjoying wildlife and providing a home for nature. Before the starlings began to congregate, we headed down to the boardwalk hoping to spot the abundant wildlife that lives in and amongst the reed beds, such as the kingfisher, swan, Cetti's warbler and heron. We were joined by some very nosey swans (who tried to steal the mince pies!) but we were also surprised to find an unexpected tourist who was visiting the Bay for the winter - the firecrest. I may have only spotted the back of its tiny bright head, but it was a very timely visit and certainly set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.
As the bright skies turned to dusk we made sure we were sitting (or standing) comfortably with our tasty mulled wine in hand, ready to watch the murmuration. Slowly but surely the starlings began to assemble, creating their striking patterns until they were moving almost as one.
I took a moment to look down from the skies and watched the expressions on my colleagues’ faces, all of which were looking up in awe. I don’t know if they realised but they actually have more in common with the starling than they think, as they too work in unison, with each and every one playing a vital part when it comes to saving nature. Yes, as RSPB staff we work tirelessly to protect our natural environment, but without the support, commitment and enthusiasm of our volunteers, we wouldn’t we be able to give nature as loud a voice and continue with what I would like to think of as our very own ‘murmuration’. If you would like to be a part of the RSPB volunteering family then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on cymru@rspb.org.uk