Early Birds

This morning, a passing migration of birds set down in our neighborhood. For just a few brief minutes, tens (hundreds?) of thousands of birds descended on lawns and in trees, resting and seeking a quick bite, chattering noisily. And then, as quickly as they'd arrived, they were gone.

I watched the first part of their visit from my porch, and then went back in for the camera, so I could catch a bit of it to share.


Video Description: Across from me, in a small field, dozens of black birds congregate in the grass. (When I first looked out at that same field right after they landed, the grass was not even visible for all the birds on it.) There is much chirping and chattering. More and more birds swoop in and land. I pan up, to catch the birds in the trees and air, then back down to the field. Then, in one movement, the entire field of birds lifts into the air and flies into formation. All of the birds from the surrounding trees take off into the air. A huge swarm flies overhead, making all kinds of communicative noise. The clouds of birds come and come. And then they are gone.