- by cnn
- 15 Aug 2024
The humble budgerigar has transformed the red centre into a sea of green and gold.
A massive murmuration - the phenomenon of thousands of birds flocking together - has swarmed the Northern Territory.
Photographer Steve Pearce has captured the natural phenomenon, explaining the sheer quantity of the birds causes the air pressure to change.
After a tough couple of years due to drought and bushfires, some inland Australian bird species are now thriving after a buoyant wet season.
"You hear one budgie, that first fella comes in, he flies past, then another one, then it's like over a short time, maybe five minutes, they all just turn up and start arriving en masse.
"There's a critical mass that sweeps in. It's spectacular."
Pearce said this was the biggest murmuration he had ever seen.
A Delta Air Lines flight bound for New York City from Las Vegas made an emergency landing shortly after takeoff on October 29, 2024, due to fumes in the cockpit. Flight DL2133, originating from Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas and destined for LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York, reported an issue within minutes of departure, leading the crew to declare an emergency and return to the Las Vegas airport for a safe landing.
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