Next to my front gate in Fort William stands a very large pine tree.
Every evening, it seems to be the gathering place for most of the sparrows in Lochaber. Thousands gather together to roost. Clouds of sparrows will swoop down onto the grass or a path and, at the slightest start, they all rise together into the security of their tree. Late in the evening, the noise they make is deafening.
In an area with no shortage of trees, why do thousands of birds gather in the same one? I’m no ornithologist, but I imagine they feel there is safety in numbers. One sparrow is an easy target for a predator, but thousands gathered together pose more of a challenge. By day they scatter and go their separate ways, but in the evening the security of a large group draws them back.