Tiny Starlings Unite To Ward Off Predator

While you have probably heard of the saying - Unity is Strength, you have never seen it in action better than in this amazing scene, captured by 69-year old amateur photographer, Giangiorgio Crisponi, from Sardinia, Italy.

According to Mr. Crisponi a lone Marsh Harrier - a medium sized raptor, found almost worldwide except for the Americas - was flying around when he caught sight of dinner - a large flock of juicy Starlings all feeding in trees by a lagoon in Cagliari, Sardinia. Believing it had found an easy prey, the raptor swooped in to try grab one.

However, what the the predator did not anticipate was what followed - Before he could do anything, the entire flock formed a tight pack and surrounded the bird, leaving it with no choice, but to fly away and look some place else for its meal.

According to Mr. Crisponi, this is not an unusual event for Starlings, a highly social animal that always travels in large packs, often exceeding over a million birds. What is unusual however, is to catch their intimidation technique on camera - There sure is strength in numbers isn't there?

Source: Dailymail.Co.Uk