Starling murmurations

This large-format print story was part of the October 2021 issue of National Geographic magazine.

The beauty and complexity of starling flocking behavior are showcased in a photograph by Nick Dunlop and explained through graphics. Often when escaping predator attacks, these birds can communicate and mimic one another without a leader, passing information across the flock at lightning speed.

The interactive online version (which may be behind a paywall) was a collaboration with National Geographic’s Director of Digital Storytelling, Kennedy Elliott. The digital story includes spectacular videos of murmurations captured by Nick Dunlop, as well as a simulation I created to guide viewers step by step through the surprisingly purposeful escape patterns.