Starling Murmuration Chinoiserie Arch Palace Pier

Print description

Three young figures gather by a chinoiserie screen and balustrade, in awe of the murmuration of starlings. A dreamy evening sunset view of Brighton Seafront stretches from the deck of the iconic Palace Pier. Joyful starlings fill the sky before roosting for the night among the wrought-iron structures of this historic Victorian construction. Near the horizon, the remnants of the West Pier stand as a testament to time.

Print details

I created this print from my original ink drawings to which I apply colour digitally. Printed on fine art paper using archival inks. I issue the formats A0, A1 & A2,A3 and A4  as limited editions of 100 where I individually sign and number each print.

Brighton Seafront

Brighton Palace Pier, commonly known as Brighton Pier or the Palace Pier opened its gates in 1899. It was the third pier to be constructed in Brighton after the Royal Suspension Chain Pier and the West Pier and is now the only one still in operation. Every winter starlings come to roost under the deck of the pier attracting many visitors and bird lovers.

Starling Art

Starlings are small passerine birds from the Sturnidae family. The name “Sturnidae” comes from the Latin word for starling, sturnus. Starlings are native to Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as northern Australia and the islands of the tropical Pacific. The starling species familiar to most people in Europe and North America and throughout much of Asia and the Pacific is the common starling or myna which is indeed very common.

Starlings have strong feet, their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. They eat insects and fruit. Several species live around human habitation and are effectively omnivores. Plumage of many species is typically dark with a metallic sheen. Most species nest in holes and lay blue or white eggs. Starlings have diverse and complex vocalisations, the birds can recognize particular individuals by their calls and are the subject of research into the evolution of human language.

Starling Murmuration

Murmurations are huge groups of starlings that twist, turn, swoop and swirl across the sky in beautiful shape-shifting clouds.

Just before dusk, small groups of starlings from the same area come together above a communal roosting site. The group grows ever larger, moving in unison in an aerial dance that casts gorgeous shapes against the waning daylight. Scientists believe that murmurations offer safety in numbers giving protection from predators like peregrine falcons that are attracted by the sheer number of birds. After all, it can’t be easy to single out just one starling from a whirling group of hundreds or even thousands! Experts still aren’t completely sure how each starling knows which way to turn without bumping into the others.