Book 31, Question 101 · Video
How do thousands of starlings turn together without crashing?
A huge flock of starlings swirling in the sky is called a murmuration. Scientists found that each bird pays attention to only the closest six or seven neighbors, not the whole crowd. When one bird turns, its neighbors turn, and the change ripples across the flock in a wave. No bird is the leader, yet the whole group moves like one shape.
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What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How do thousands of starlings turn together without crashing?
The Big Idea
Thousands of starlings swirl in the sky! They twist and turn like one giant shape. How do they do it without crashing?
A Murmuration
Step one: A Murmuration. A huge flock of starlings swirling in the sky is called a murmuration. It can look like smoke twisting in the wind.
Watch the Neighbors
Step two: Watch the Neighbors. Scientists found that each bird pays attention to only its closest six or seven neighbors. It doesn't try to watch the whole crowd.
A Ripple
Step three: A Ripple. When one bird turns, its neighbors turn, and the change ripples across the flock in a wave. No bird is the leader, yet the whole group moves like one shape.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look! Thousands. Six or seven. Spreads fast. Moves as one.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! A murmuration can have thousands of birds, and they rarely bump into each other. There's no leader in a murmuration. Murmurations often swirl near sunset. Turns ripple through the flock like waves.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Stand in a line with five friends or family members. Each person copies only the person on their right. Start a slow arm wave at one end. Watch it ripple down the line. How fast did it travel?
Outro
A swirling starling flock is called a murmuration. Each bird watches only its closest six or seven neighbors, so turns ripple through the flock like a wave, and with no leader, the whole group moves as one shape. Science is amazing! What will you discover next? Every question is a new adventure, so keep wondering and keep exploring with me! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!