I was watching some 2014 FLW shows on you tube and every now and then they cut to a new shot and for the first few frames it's like there's a flock of distant birds or flies in the sky that scatter. Anyone else noticed? What's it all about? Just the editor having some fun?

I noticed that as well. I had to back it up a few times to make sure I wasn't seeing anything. At first I thought they started video right when a bunch of purple martins or swallows when buzzing by but after watching it a couple times it appears to just be the editor messing with the video. 

I haven't seen those shows, but it seems that telecasts of all sporting events cut away from time to time to show something that's not game-related. Maybe they feel variety keeps the program interesting?

No, it's not like that, it's just a couple of frames at the beginning of a shot. Like Bluebasser I think it's the editor having some fun.