Swirling Starlings

Through his photographs of swirling swarms of starlings - murmurations - photographer Erik Hijweege explores the impressive drama of the natural world. In this series of images, he captures flocks of starlings as they form and reform in the Dutch sky. Often they present as familiar shapes, such as fish, or swans, that can best be seen when captured in photographs. In the accompanying text, art historian Maartje van den Heuvel compares Hijweeges images to the cloudy skies in 17th century Dutch painting. Nature journalist Koos Dijksterhuis explains why starling swarms occur, and explains the wonderful choreography of this breath-taking natural phenomenon. This work was exhibited at the Nature Museum Fryslan in Leeuwarden. Text in English and Dutch.