Hanging in air
Much more than a stiff breeze is required for a Ring-billed Gull to be able to hover
Contributed by Eldon Greij
Published:
April 22, 2011
Founding Editor Eldon Greij writes about a Ring-billed Gull that he observed hovering along the shore of Lake Superior on a windy day. Greij describes the physics behind the gull's ability to overcome gravity and the backward push of the wind without flapping, and he explains the mechanisms that birds use to make rapid adjustments to body and wing positions during flight.
Read more about Eldon Greij »
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