Why are groups of birds named?

[Neverender0]

I've never understood this? Where did it come from, who first penned the names and what do they mean?

i.e.
A murmuration of starlings
A spring of teal
A tidings of magpies
A trip of dotterel
An unkindness of ravens
A watch of nightingales
A murder of crows
A flight of doves
A muster of storks and so on....

[Quizmonster]

Collective nouns have been described as "one of the few aspects of etymology that invite the user to coin his or her own at will". The earliest collection of these was called The Boke of St Albans, published in 1486. This was devoted to hunting and creature terms such as an exultation of larks, a parliament of rooks and a murmuration of starlings. Many of these terms were created specifically by the author of the book, believed to be a prioress called Dame Juliana Barnes.
Since these early days, many others have been created such as a pride of lions and a skulk of foxes, which describe the character of the creatures. Others are just onomatopoeic, like a gaggle of geese and yet more suggest real or imagined behavioural characteristics such as a business of ferrets and an unkindness of ravens.
Today, these collective names are often composed to make fun of a given group of people such as a flutter of ladies-in-waiting, a flourish of strumpets - for a group of prostitutes! - a deceit of lawyers or a yawn of politicians.
Since this area is so open to creativity, we often find that there is more than one term used...foxes have dens or earths, wasps have nests or bikes and so on. It's really not worth getting worked up about, since the whole matter is so fluid. Make up your own...lots of other people have, including Dame Juliana!

[Theland]

So what about a collection of ABers, what would you suggest?

[Neverender0]

hehe thanks for that!

[brionon]

Made up names that pedantic English teachers and Ann Robinson describe as 'Correct'.