SINGAPORE – As early as mid-February, bird enthusiasts and nature photographers have been all a-twitter over the spectacular swirling flocks of daurian starlings sweeping across the skies in Woodlands in the evenings.
The birds, also known as purple-backed starlings, are visitors that have flown a long way south to escape the harsh winter in North-east Asia.
Mr Chin Yee Hong, a bird enthusiast, said he first spotted the starlings flying above the open field opposite Koufu headquarters building in Woodlands Height in mid-February. His home is opposite the open field and he has been tracking the flock, hoping to see the rarer chestnut-cheeked starling among the many daurian starlings.
“I was amazed to see such a big flock murmuring in the field for the first time in my life in Singapore,” said the 63-year-old property management manager, who was one of the first few to share the sightings of the huge flocks with the local birding community on the Telegram messaging app.
When The Straits Times visited the Woodlands site at dusk on March 4, there were at least six excited birders enjoying the aerial display of the daurian starlings in the sky. Different flocks were swooping around in a huge formation, a phenomenon known as murmuration, over the open field.
Daurian starlings flying in formation, a phenomenon known as murmuration, above the open field outside Koufu headquarters building in Woodlands Height on March 4.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
The dramatic twisting and turning of the birds lasted about 20 minutes before they perched themselves on nearby trees.
