Flocks of birds or schools of fish often group together in massive numbers, and move as though they are a single organism with one brain.
The behavior is called a murmuration, and scientists are trying to figure out how — and why — the animals do it.
Paige Pfleger (@PaigePfleger) of Here & Now contributor WHYY went to a landfill in Atlantic County, New Jersey, to observe the phenomenon firsthand.
Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.![](http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Safety+In+Numbers+--+Why+Thousands+Of+Birds+Move+As+One&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxODcyMTgzMDEyMTgxMTY5NjYxN2I4OQ004))
![](http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Safety+In+Numbers+--+Why+Thousands+Of+Birds+Move+As+One&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxODcyMTgzMDEyMTgxMTY5NjYxN2I4OQ004))
300x250 Ad
300x250 Ad