I’m quite used to seeings birds and bison in close proximity on Antelope Island State Park not just during the warmer months but during the winter too. In December of 2014 I had an opportunity to photograph American Bison on a hill on the southern part of the island with flocks of birds flying near them and landing on them.

Close up of a Bison and European Starlings on Antelope Island State Park, UtahClose up of a Bison and European Starlings – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

The light was spectacular that day and the distant storm clouds made for interesting and dramatic backgrounds at times. Most of the images I took that day on Antelope Island State Park had flocks of European Starlings and a Bison or two in them.

A group of starlings can be called a “murmuration”, “filth”, “scourge”, “vulgarity” or a “constellation” of starlings, I prefer to use a “murmuration” or a “constellation”, thus I used the title “A Constellation of European Starlings and a Bison” for this post. I know a great many people despise starlings because they are non-native and compete aggressively with native species for nesting sites but I simply can’t bring myself to think of them as vulgar.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my American Bison photos plus facts and information about this species. Click here to see more of my European Starling photos plus facts and information about this species.