Bobolink flocks in Bolivia

Bobolink flocks leaving a night roost in Trinidad, Bolivia in March 2006. Image quality is poor because this video was taken through a scope. We estimated flock size by having 1 person counting by the 100s the number of birds passing through the scope view, at the same time that 3 other biologists were counting using their binoculars. We were surprisingly close in our tallies, and the average was 90,00 birds. Only a short segment of their departure from the roost is shown here; this "river" of Bobolinks continued on for about an hour and a half. They're all headed out to forage for the day, mostly in rice fields (much to the farmers' dismay).
Video Rating: 0 / 5