The mystery of why so many birds fly in a V formation may have been solved

Posted on: January 16, 2014

Author: Victoria Gill

Report by BBC NEWS

 

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.

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How birds take adventage of the V formation Photo: © Nature

Fitting tiny data loggers to these critically endangered ibises showed that the birds often changed position and altered the timing of their wing beats to give them an aerodynamic advantage.  Lead researcher Dr Steven Portugal from the Royal Veterinary College explained:

“They’re seemingly very aware of where the other birds are in the flock and they put themselves in the best possible position. This makes the most of upward-moving air generated by the bird in front. This so-called “upwash” is created as a bird flies forward; whether it is gliding or flapping, it pushes air downward beneath its wings. Downwash is bad … Birds don’t want to be in another bird’s downwash as it’s pushing them down.”

But as the air squeezes around the outside of the wings, it creates upwash at the wingtips.

“This can give a bit of a free ride for the bird that’s following, So the other bird wants to put its own wingtip in the upwash from the bird in front.”

Researchers were also surprised to find that birds also timed their wing beats perfectly to match the good air off the bird in front, putting themselves in the best possible position to make the most of upward-moving air they generate.

Just as the birds save energy by gaining lift from other birds, many companies that are developing unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, are looking to copy the energy-efficient V formation.

“Elucidating this mechanism might go some way to helping [companies] understand how they can replicate that with their plane formation to save fuel,” said Dr Portugal.

But for scientists, it is the insight into a remarkable natural phenomenon that is truly exciting. Dr Portugal adding:

“They’re able to sense what’s going on from the bird in front, where this good air is coming from and how to position themselves perfectly in it … So from a sensory point of view, it’s really incredible.”

Original Link: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-25736049

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