"Remarkably, the group achieves this without any leadership structure, the simple interactions between individuals creating outcomes greater than the sum of their parts," says scientist and photographer Dr. Kathryn Cooper.
Cooper's remarkable panoramas of starling murmurations contain numerous individual photos that, when superimposed into a single image, display the incredible flight paths and coordination of the group.
A few basic principles govern the group's rhythmic complexity, namely that each bird responds only to those closest to it. 'This means that when one bird turns to avoid attack from a falcon, the birds around it also turn,' Cooper says.
This sends 'a wave of information through the flock,' she adds, showcasing the intuitive communication among starlings during their impressive aerial displays.
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