I stood gazing in wonder when a "V" flew past over me. Not actually a letter "V", rather a flock of birds in V formation. Still watching the beautiful scenery created by those birds in the sky, I noticed the one at the rear fly past others and replaced the leader.
That's awesome I said having realized they possibly continued to change position when the leader is weak as our winged friends continue their migration
Why do birds migrate?
Why do birds fly in V formation?
Why do the even prefer V shape?
Away we flock with them to find the answer...
Though not all birds migrate but more than half do. They are referred as migratory birds.
Reasons why birds migrate to a different habitat vary but shouldn't be far from availability of food or for survival purpose i.e they respond to stimuli such as changes in weather.
Flying in V formation is in fact a characteristic of migratory birds.
Reason; to save energy during their long journey.
Funny enough! birds migrate several kilometers away from their habitat. Don't be surprised why they mainly feed on grains because the grains provide the energy they burn up during their flight. Flying consumes a lot energy even a pilot can tell you that.
Thanks to nature that has this amazing feature bestowed to our winged friends to enable their aerial adaptation.
In the northern hemisphere, many birds migrate south during the winter months when the weather becomes too cold for them to survive in their northern habitats. Once spring arrives, the birds return to their homes. Equally as varied as the reasons for migrating are the ways in which different migratory birds make their journey. Some birds migrate alone, others travel in pairs and many move in large flocks. Some birds often migrate in swarms, while larger birds, such as geese,migrate in formation.
Many times this migration takes the form of the letter V.
Why?
The reason birds prefer to fly in a V shape has puzzled researchers for many years. There are two general theories to explain the V-shaped phenomenon. The most accepted theory is that the formation of a flock influences aerodynamics, making it easier for the birds to fly. As the birds flap their wings, the air flowing off their wing tips gives birds in the back of the V an extra lift.
This reduces the amount of energy the birds need to fly. Over the course of the migration, birds take turns leading the front of the V, the most difficult position. When a bird is tired of leading, it falls to the rear of the V, where there is the least wind resistance. Rotating through various positions in the V maximizes the use of each bird’s energy, allowing flocks to fly for long periods of time without having to stop.
The second theory suggests flying in a V offers each bird an unimpaired line of sight as the flick flies through the air. This makes it easier for the birds to keep track of each member of the flock. Groups of fighter pilots often arrange their planes in V formation for the same reason.
That's awesome I said having realized they possibly continued to change position when the leader is weak as our winged friends continue their migration
Why do birds migrate?
Why do birds fly in V formation?
Why do the even prefer V shape?
Away we flock with them to find the answer...
Though not all birds migrate but more than half do. They are referred as migratory birds.
Reasons why birds migrate to a different habitat vary but shouldn't be far from availability of food or for survival purpose i.e they respond to stimuli such as changes in weather.
Flying in V formation is in fact a characteristic of migratory birds.
Reason; to save energy during their long journey.
Funny enough! birds migrate several kilometers away from their habitat. Don't be surprised why they mainly feed on grains because the grains provide the energy they burn up during their flight. Flying consumes a lot energy even a pilot can tell you that.
Thanks to nature that has this amazing feature bestowed to our winged friends to enable their aerial adaptation.
In the northern hemisphere, many birds migrate south during the winter months when the weather becomes too cold for them to survive in their northern habitats. Once spring arrives, the birds return to their homes. Equally as varied as the reasons for migrating are the ways in which different migratory birds make their journey. Some birds migrate alone, others travel in pairs and many move in large flocks. Some birds often migrate in swarms, while larger birds, such as geese,migrate in formation.
Many times this migration takes the form of the letter V.
Why?
The reason birds prefer to fly in a V shape has puzzled researchers for many years. There are two general theories to explain the V-shaped phenomenon. The most accepted theory is that the formation of a flock influences aerodynamics, making it easier for the birds to fly. As the birds flap their wings, the air flowing off their wing tips gives birds in the back of the V an extra lift.
This reduces the amount of energy the birds need to fly. Over the course of the migration, birds take turns leading the front of the V, the most difficult position. When a bird is tired of leading, it falls to the rear of the V, where there is the least wind resistance. Rotating through various positions in the V maximizes the use of each bird’s energy, allowing flocks to fly for long periods of time without having to stop.
The second theory suggests flying in a V offers each bird an unimpaired line of sight as the flick flies through the air. This makes it easier for the birds to keep track of each member of the flock. Groups of fighter pilots often arrange their planes in V formation for the same reason.
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