Migrating starlings create beautiful murmurations in the sky in southern Israel, where they are spending their winter.
By REUTERSStarling birds swoop over southern Israel (credit: REUTERS)
Dark and moving shapes fill the skies of southern Israel as starlings spend the winter in the country, creating "murmurations" or display of shifting movements.Until 20 years ago, starlings came to Israel in their millions, but for unknown reasons the numbers have dropped.The avian visitors from Europe can be seen in Israel near the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, where they feed during the day and circulate in warm air rising from the detritus.At dusk they begin to group together for the night. Some make off to streams near the Israeli town of Netivot, near Bedouin villages and an industrial park.