Sort sol

Sort sol is a wonderful natural event that looks like a dark sun in the evening sky. It happens in the marshlands of southwestern Jutland in Denmark, close to the towns of Tønder and Ribe. In the spring and autumn, very large groups of starlings gather here. They are traveling between their winter homes in southern Europe and their summer areas in Scandinavia and around the Baltic Sea.

This amazing sight happens just after sunset. The starlings make huge, moving shapes in the sky, like a dance. Because there are so many birds, they can cover the sunset. This makes the sky look like a black sun. This is why it is called “sort sol,” which means “black sun” in the Danish language. The flock usually has about half a million birds, but sometimes it can be even larger.

When a bird that might hurt them flies close, the starlings work together to stay safe. They find ways to protect themselves, which helps them rest for the night.