---
title: "A dance of life and death"
url: "https://www.bbb-tourguide.eu/en/article/a-dance-of-life-and-death"
description: "In spring and autumn, the phonemenon called \"Sort Sol\" („Black Sun“) provides for a breathtaking spectacle of nature, as up to 400,000 starlings gather in the marsh near Tønder to feed their fill. Short after, they will have to face a journey of up to 2,000 km, as they set off for their winter quarters or return to their breeding grounds in February. The flocks move like a black cloud in the sky, suddenly drifting apart and reforming, as if in a rehearsed dance. The reason for this behaviour is dramatic: birds of prey like to feed on starlings. When such a hunter nears, the starlings surround and harass him until he gives up. The bird ends up no longer being able to flap its wings and literally falls \"from the sky\"."
language: "en"
type: "Article, BlogPosting"
breadcrumb: "Root > your tourguide > Special > Destination.Data Details > article"
---

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A dance of life and death
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In spring and autumn, the phonemenon called "Sort Sol" („Black Sun“) provides for a breathtaking spectacle of nature, as up to 400,000 starlings gather in the marsh near Tønder to feed their fill. Short after, they will have to face a journey of up to 2,000 km, as they set off for their winter quarters or return to their breeding grounds in February. The flocks move like a black cloud in the sky, suddenly drifting apart and reforming, as if in a rehearsed dance. The reason for this behaviour is dramatic: birds of prey like to feed on starlings. When such a hunter nears, the starlings surround and harass him until he gives up. The bird ends up no longer being able to flap its wings and literally falls "from the sky".