Birds Swarming – Inktense in a Watercolour Moleskine
It was very windy, last Thursday and I was outside working in my workshop when I heard this tremendous racket from the birds which roost in the high trees behind our house. Glancing upwards I was amazed to see this huge flock of crows or rooks zooming backwards and forwards in the same way that starlings do late at night. I don’t know why they were doing this but I quick collected my video camera and shot a quick film to record this behaviour. This painting is copied from a still from this video:
Maybe the wind was upsetting the birds as their nests, high up in the beech and elm trees were swaying terribly. We have stayed here for 30 years and have never seen this before.
This is a painting study reproducing the lovely work from a...
Candace 4:38 pm on April 6, 2011 | #
Uncle Bob, I asked a friend at WetCanvas.com about your birds. John is an expert on birds and does fabulous bird art. He popped over and viewed your video. Said probably high gusty winds aloft, from the look of the swooping, etc. Said it was not uncommon for some birds in high wind disturbances. So no science fiction or aliens. Aw, gee. He also loved the art work here! Great video and painting of The Birds!
Uncle Bob 1:24 am on April 7, 2011 | #
Hi Candace. I am really grateful that you have taken the time to solve this problem for me. I suspected that the high winds were effecting the birds’ behavior but could not be sure. Most of the local folk are not experts in this field and there were as many theories as their were birds. Please pass my thanks onto your friend, John, for providing an explanation. Tell him the trees, in question, are a mixture of tall beech and elm and are very exposed especially near their tops. We often wonder how the birds manage to stay in place up there but they have used this spot, for roosting/nesting for the 30 years we have stayed and probably more before that. They must like the inaccessible nature of the place. I can take some photos nearer the trees if you and your friend are interested. Many thanks again for this – Bob
Nikira 6:09 am on April 7, 2011 | #
Beautiful, practically Sumi-e.