Sunday 24 January 2016

Together but Separate

I've said before, that the daily jackdaw commute from east to west is one of the great wildlife sights of the region. This is a good time of year to watch it. Its fascination, I think is that it illustrates the tension between the individuality of each bird and the flock's shared purpose.


Other birds flock in a more uniform way and each one is very much like the others. Jackdaws, like rooks, love to stick together in a companionable gang agreeing a similar purpose and destination, yet each keeps its separate identity. Note that in this picture each bird has its wings at a different angle. Togetherness should not mean conformity.

The spectacle is at its best in the morning with a strong wind coming from the west.

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