Re: flocking

[Ridgerunner <shabut@earthlink.net>]

  I'm sure most people have seen gigantic
> flocks of starlings or blackbirds that, while flying, may all suddenly
> wheel and turn in unison.  What allows them to communicate this sort of
> action to one another?  And in the world of pure speculation, is it
> possible birds have inherited this trait from the theropods?  Or is it
> something that has evolved much later? I'm not sure what other birds
> participate in this sort of behavior...
> 
> Andrea Kirk
> University of Maryland
> 


        Just to confuse things further, schooling fishes are masters at
this turning and wheeling as one.  Do you suppose this sort of
behavior comes from that far back?

        Blue