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Computational models of collective behavior in birds has allowed us to inferinteraction rules directly from experimental data. Using a generic form ofthese rules we explore the collective behavior and emergent dynamics of asimulated swarm. For a wide range of flock size and interaction extent (thefixed number of neighbors with which an individual will interact) we find thatthe computational collective is inherently stable --- individuals are attractedto one another and will position themselves a preferred distance from theirfixed neighbors within a rigid lattice. Nonetheless, the irregular overallshape of the flock, coupled with the need for individuals on the boundary tomove towards their neighbors creates a torque which leads the flock to rotateand then meander. We argue that this "rolling meander" is a very good proxy forreal collective behavior in animal species and yet arises from a simplehomogeneous and deterministic rule for interaction. Rather than then introduceleaders --- which has already been shown, quite straightforwardly, to drivecollective swarms such as this --- we introduce a small number of "followers".Each follower is bound to consider a random fixed individual to be among theirneighbors, irrespective of actual metric distance between them. We find thatthe introduction of a small number of such followers causes a phase transitionthat quickly leads to instability in the flock structure (as no stableconfiguration arises) and the previously rigid crystalline interaction amongneighbors now becomes fluid: the distance between neighbors decreases, theflock ceases to rotate and meanders less.

The instability of followers and emergent vorticity in flocking behaviour for an experimental interaction rule