Big from little

Last night (and tonight) I watched the Royal Institute Christmas lectures*- which this year are about how size matters. As I sat in the car waiting this afternoon I spotted a 'murmuration' of starlings (yep, group names- I couldn't make that up!) stretching, swaying and merging into varying shapes from long elasticated bands to blobs, clouds and spherical amalgamations of tweeters. 


I wonder how the individuals know which way to go and who is following who? Who decides when its time to shape-shift into another confirmation? The big is so much greater than the individual parts, certainly in terms of giving such a wonderful spectacle. Big was very impressive here... as impressive as small was, on an evening summer's walk just a few months ago.












* Last one tomorrow 8pm BBC4, but available from the BBC iPlayer