The mystery of why so many birds fly in a V formation may have been solved.
Scientists from the Royal Veterinary College fitted data loggers to a flock of rare birds that were being trained to migrate by following a microlight.
This revealed that the birds flew in the optimal position - gaining lift from the bird in front by remaining close to its wingtip.
The study, published in the journal Nature, also showed that the birds timed their wing beats.
A previous experiment in pelicans was the first real clue to the energy-saving purpose of V formations. It revealed that birds' heart rates went down when they were flying together in V.
But this latest study tracked and monitored the flight of every bird in the flock - recording its position, speed and heading as well as every wing flap.
This was possible thanks to a unique conservation project by the Waldarappteam in Austria, which has raised flocks of northern bald ibises and trained them to migrate behind a microlight.
0 comments:
Post a Comment