Hitchcock’s The Birds & Poe’s The Raven: When Birds Are Sci-Fi-like Scary [60 PICS]

3
October 26th, 2012 Permalink

When the woods is Brothers Grimm scary was sort of far out, fun and freaky, so here’s another peculiar collection where spectacular flocks inspired some photographers to think of Alfred Hitchcock‘s The Birds or Edgar Allen Poe‘s The Raven. Flocks can be beautiful, peaceful but then . . . when the birds are scary? [60 Photos, 2 Videos]

Boreray

Boreray. Tribute to Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven and Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. Photo #1 by steve_w

The birds, massive flock 1.5 - 2 million flamingos

Yes, flocks can be stunning such as this massive flock. 1.5 – 2 million flamingos, taken at Rift Valley, Kenya. Photo #2 by Steve Garvie



Birds and Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae Avila Beach, California

Birds and Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae Avila Beach, California. Flocks of birds come in all size and species. Photo #3 by Donald Quintana

Flock of pidgeons and a gorgeous rainbow over Lage-Waddenhausen

“The flock of pigeons was flying in circles just in front of the rainbow. It was breathtaking. I’ve rarely seen a rainbow as intense and complete as this.” Photo #4 by Bernd Sieker

flock of birds -- Pink Moon and the birds

The Birds and a pink moon; sometimes it’s a happy, peaceful scene. Photo #5 by Nathan Gibbs

Limosa lapponica and Thalasseus bergii, flying in to a high tide roost in Roebuck Bay in Western Australia

Flock flying in to a high tide roost in Roebuck Bay in Western Australia. Sometimes it’s less peaceful, more erratic and huge flocks. Photo #6 by Mdk572

The Birds attack at Hitchcock's wedding

Then other times . . . Hitchcock’s Wedding. Photo #7 by Nwardez

Bird flock, Bird Island Seychelles, wonder if Hitchcock visited before writing The Birds

Bird Island Seychelles. Did Hitchcock visit here before writing The Birds. Photo #8 by Dino Sassi – Marcel Fayon, Photo Eden LTD

The Birds Hit the Road

The Birds Hit the Road. Photo #9 by Wavy1

Edgar Allen Poe The Raven, cemetery in downtown Halifax

Let’s not forget Edgar Allen Poe if we are thinking about spooky birds. The Raven: Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, — Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore — While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, — As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. — “’Tis some visiter,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door — Only this and nothing more.” Photo #10 by jhoc

Farm buildings and the birds, Southern Story County, Iowa, USA

Surely not a flock of crows attacking a farm building? The birds in Southern Story County, Iowa, USA. Photo #11 by Carl Wycoff

Graveyard tombstone, the raven at cemetery

Left: Raven visits tombstone of John Snow. Right: Crow An obligatory rook at Rookwood! Taken at Rookwood Necropolis Sydney, Australia. Photo #13 by quite peculiar & #14 by johnno_oz

Brighton starlings at Brighton seafront

Brighton starlings at Brighton seafront. Photo #15 by Simon (musical photo man)

The Birds at an island with nesting birds in San Lorenzo bay

An island with nesting birds in San Lorenzo bay, Los Haitises National Park, Dominican Republic. Photo #16 by Anton Bielousov

Wild Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus flock, Karratha, Pilbara region, Western Australia

That’s a lot of wild birds in Western Australia. Photo #17 by Jim Bendon

The Birds

The Birds while quoting Edgar Allen Poe. Like H. P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allen Poe in the 19th century—has exerted ‘an incalculable influence on succeeding generations of writers of horror fiction.’ Raven: Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, — By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore, — Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven, — Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore — Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!” Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.” Photo #18 by *Kicki*

A flock of Red-winged Blackbirds flying into the sunset

A flock of Red-winged Blackbirds flying into the sunset. Taken at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Kansas. Photo #20 by Jerry Segraves

A flock of birds take flight shortly after the Space Shuttle Atlantis arrives at Pad 39B

The Birds attacking NASA’s Space Shuttle Atlantis. Photo #21 by NASA

A flock of migrating shearwaters fills the sky at Unimak Pass on the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

A flock of migrating shearwaters fills the sky at Unimak Pass on the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. Photo #22 by USFWS Headquarters

The birds, Houston and San Francisco

Left: “Around dusk,” wrote the photographer, “thousands of grackles swarm around downtown Houston before descending to roost in trees around the Wortham Center. They fly in some crazy formations. It’s quite a sight to behold.” Right: Civic Center Inn, San Francisco. Photo #23 by Adam Baker & #24 by nahlinse

The Birds at Hitchcock's Beach

The photographer wrote, “Alfred Hitchcock and Tippi Hedren can all be proud of – my own private screening of The Birds! Quite amazing how many gulls you can attract with a stale baguette!” Photo #26 by William I. Boarman, United States Geological Survey

Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds'

Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. The birds are famous in Plaça Cataluña. Photo #27 by Andrew E. Larsen

Attacked by Birds in St Mark's square in Venice

Killer pigeons? Attacked by Birds in St Mark’s square in Venice. Photo #28 by Renato Morbach

Hitchcock The Birds Feeding Friendzy A woman makes 200 new friends in St. Mark's Square

“Feeding Friendzy,” the photographer explained. “A woman makes 200 new friends in St. Mark’s Square.” Photo #29 by brian wallace

The Birds at Piazza San Marco

The Birds at Piazza San Marco. Photo #30 by Jay Reed

Just in case you’ve never seen the movie, here is a mashup created by KJEveryday, in a tribute to Alfred Hitchcock’s magnificent film, The Birds in 1 minute, and 40 seconds. Video #1 by Kyle Johnson

birds make a a Hitchcock atmosphere

Birds make a a Hitchcock atmosphere. Photo #31 by Suzanne Bonnefond

A White-necked Raven (Corvus albicollis) in Durban, South Africa

A White-necked Raven (Corvus albicollis) in Durban, South Africa. Photo #32 by MBoy68

Poe's The Raven on tombstone in graveyard

Poe’s The Raven on tombstone in graveyard. Photo #33 by Geordie Lounsbury

Half Dome and Raven

Half Dome and Raven. Photo #40 by Brocken Inaglory

Birds on the Bird Island, Seychelles

Birds on the Bird Island, Seychelles. Photo #42 by Phil Guest

Marbled Godwits(Limosa fedoa) and Willets (Tringa semipalmata) (formerly Catoptrophorus semipalmatus) in a flock flying, seen during a kayak outing in Morro Bay, CA Morro Bay Estuary

Marbled Godwits and Willets in a flock flying, seen during a kayak outing in Morro Bay, CA Morro Bay Estuary. Photo #43 by Mike Baird from Morro Bay, USA

Sydney - Bats at dusk

Sydney – Bats at dusk. The photographer noted, “Every dusk the flock of fruit bats/Flying foxes camping in the Royal Botanic Gardens next to the Opera House fly out to feed on fruit/nectar/pollen. There has been a flock of approx 3000 living there since 1989.” Photo #44 by Naddsy

Starlings flocking around Brighton Pier

Starlings flocking around Brighton Pier. Photo #45 by Andy Aldridge

flock and full moon

Flock and full moon. Photo #46 by fdecomite

Cold War-era NIKE missile site radar dome with a flock of ravens near Eielson AFB, Alaska

Cold War-era NIKE missile site radar dome with a flock of ravens near Eielson AFB, Alaska. Photo #47 by G.Goodwin Jr.

Fish crow and egg

The Raven feasting. Photo #48 by Korall

The birds flock attacking the cows

The bird flock attacking the cows. Photo #49 by Gouwenaar

watching the murmur flow, starling mumruration

“Watching the murmur flow” is a pretty sight, so long as Hitchcock’s Birds or Poe’s Raven aren’t attacking. Photo #50 by steve mcnicholas

Kapaleeswarar temple

Flock of birds that reside primarily in and around temples flying away in unison … the temple is the Kapaleeswarar temple in Chennai, TamilNadu. Photo #52 by Nandakumar Subramaniam

The Birds in Nykoping, Sodermanland, SE

The Birds in Nykoping, Sodermanland, SE. Photo #53 by Christian Holmér

Germany – Migratory birds (presumably Common Starling) on a high-voltage power line

Germany – Migratory birds (presumably Common Starling) on a high-voltage power line. Photo #55 by Georg Slickers

Lesser Snow Goose

Lesser Snow Goose. Photo #56 by Walter Siegmund

Waterfowl at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, Sacramento Valley, California, USA

Waterfowl at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, Sacramento Valley, California, USA. Photo #57 by Miguel Vieira

The Raven on tombstone in graveyard

The Raven on a tombstone in graveyard. Poe wrote, “And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting — On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming, — And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor — Shall be lifted — nevermore!” Photo #59 by Mike Hiatt

Northern Raven aka 'Life and Death' Poe's The Raven

Northern Raven aka “Life and Death”. Nevermore . . . Photo #60 by Nabok

Just in case you’ve never been made to memorize Poe’s dark poem, The Raven written by Edgar Allan Poe. “Read by James Earl Jones. Effects and music added, as well as images related to the raven. A fan video made by a fellow poet.” Video #2 by BeyondTheDarkness09

For the real deal of what is happening in some of these photos, please see Sensational Starling Murmuration: Far Out Flocking Phenomenon [37 PICS, 13 VIDS].



3 Responses to “Hitchcock’s The Birds & Poe’s The Raven: When Birds Are Sci-Fi-like Scary [60 PICS]”

Leave a Reply