With the lack of bird activity to report from Ynys Las this afternoon I thought some of you might be interested in the news below. I'm rather sorry the RSPB abandoned its 'Aren't Birds Brilliant' catchphrase as this research exemplifies that very fact and is much more exciting than worrying about how 'Nature' will survive without us providing 'homes'.
January 2014: Researchers have attached custom-built GPS and accelerometer loggers to birds on migration and have gained ground-breaking insights into the mysteries of bird flight formation.
The light-weight, synchronised GPS and inertial measurement devices, recorded to within 30cm accuracy where a northern bald ibis was within the flock, its speed, and when and how hard it flapped its wings. The precision of the measurements enabled the aerodynamic interactions of the birds to be studied at a greater level and complexity than ever before.
The research, led by the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, proves for the first time that birds precisely time when they flap their wings and position themselves in aerodynamically optimal positions to maximise the capture of upwash, or ‘good air’, throughout the entire flap cycle.
Dr Steve Portugal, Lead Researcher at the Royal Veterinary College, said: “The distinctive V-formation of bird flocks has long intrigued researchers and continues to attract both scientific and popular attention, however a definitive account of the aerodynamic implications of these formations has remained elusive until now.
“The intricate mechanisms involved in V-formation flight indicate remarkable awareness and ability of birds to respond to the wingpath of nearby flock-mates. Birds in V-formation seem to have developed complex phasing strategies to cope with the dynamic wakes produced by flapping wings.”
Professor David Delpy, Chief Executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) that provided the funding for the project said: “This is a fascinating piece of research, providing a scientific answer to a question that I suspect most people have asked themselves – why do birds fly in formation? The results will prove useful in a variety of fields for example aerodynamics and manufacturing.”