The mystery of why so many birds flying in V formations is very close to be resolved. Scientists at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of London, UK, placed devices to collect data at a flock of birds trained to migrate following an ultralight aircraft.
Thanks to this, they could see the birds flying in the optimum position. gaining momentum ahead of the bird is going to stay close to the tip of his wing
The study, published in the journal Nature , also showed that the birds synchronize their wing beats.
A previous experiment with pelicans offered the first real indication that the V formations serve to preserve energy, showing that the heart rate decreased when the birds were flying together in V.
But this new work tracked and watched the flight of each of the birds in the flock, and recorded its position, speed and direction, and each beat of wings.
aerodynamic advantage
birds fly in a V to save energy.
The work was made possible thanks to a conservation organization Waldarapp in Austria, which has brought flocks of bald ibises and trained to follow an ultralight aircraft.
The objective of this project is to bring this unusual kind of back to Europe, since these birds were decimated by hunting.
Waldarapp the’re training for traveling on a migratory route that was lost.
By placing small devices to collect data on these bird critically endangered, scientists could see that the ibis often changed its position and alter the rhythm of his flapping for an aerodynamic advantage.
“are apparently well aware of where the other birds in the flock and are located in the best position possible,” said Steven Portugal, leader of the research team.
This makes that take advantage of the air that moves up generated by the bird in front, as when a bird flies forward this movement creates rising air.
When planning or flapping, pushing the air down below their wings.
“Air movement down is bad,” said Portugal.
“Birds do not want to be in this movement of another bird, because pushing down”.
But the air seeps through the outer part of the wings and then back up at the ends thereof.
“This may offer something like a free trip to the bird that comes back,” Portugal said.
“So, the other bird wants to put its own wing tip up in the air caused by which you are ahead.”
The other really amazing result, scientists say, is that birds also “perfectly synchronize their wing beats to match the movement of air reaching the correct flying ahead.”
“Every ibis kept the tip of his wing in the area of ??rising air through the flapping cycle,” said Portugal.
Natural Phenomena
“What these birds are able to do is amazing. Can you perceive what happens to the ibis in front, where the air is good and how to position it perfectly.”
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Just how birds save energy using the momentum of others, many companies working on the development of unmanned aerial vehicles looking copy in V formation for energy efficiency.
“Elucidating this mechanism may help to know how they can replicate this with formations of aircraft to save fuel,” Portugal said.
For scientists, however, is a better understanding of a truly fascinating natural phenomenon.
“in V formations are so beautiful,” said Adrian Thomas, a professor of biomechanics at the University of Oxford, UK.
“We see them all the time and we want to understand and explain, and this team has done much in that direction.”
“What these birds are able to do is amazing,” added Steven Portugal.
“Can you perceive what happens to the ibis in front, where the air is good and how to position it perfectly.” “From a sensory point of view, is really incredible.”
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