Monthly Archives: September 2012

One of a Kind

Okay, we’ve all seen birds fly before. But how many of us have seen those birds fly backwards? Hummingbirds are unique because they are able to fly in almost all directions, including backwards! This one of a kind utility is rare among birds but is common among insects. How do hummingbirds do it? What allows […]

Fishy Flying

Normally you don’t see flying and fish in the same phrase. How can an animal that spends all of its time in the water have the ability to fly? There are even species of birds that don’t have the gift of flight (sorry, penguins), so how can fish fly? In fact, scientists have discovered over […]

The Albatross-The Master of Dynamic Soaring

The albatross is one of nature’s most interesting creatures. They seem to fly for hours and hours and yet they only flap their wings on rare occasions. The instinct and evolutionary advantage that permits the albatross to decrease the flapping needed to stay in flight is called Dynamic Soaring. The albatross is perhaps the most famous […]

The Plane that Lands Like a Bird

Have you ever wondered how birds can switch from barreling forward at full speed to gently touching down on a target as narrow as a telephone wire? And, how can we use this to improve the way our planes land? These are the topics that are going to be covered within this article.

Need For Speed: The Hawk Moth

In every class of animals, there are species that push the limits of what their genetic family can do. The peregrine falcon can dive at speeds of up to 200mph. Cheetahs can run up to 70 mph. Insects also have an exceptional species within their ranks, the hawk moth. The hawk moth can fly 12mph […]

How Butterflies Fly

Butterflies can look like simple animals with complicated patterns, they softly flit through the air selecting nectar filled flowers for their daily meals, And while these gentile fliers are by no means tough, their wings are more than twice as effective than a bird’s.

Why do birds fly in formation?

Migratory birds have many flight formations, called echelons. Each have their own set of advantages. The most common of these is the  V  shaped formation,  which can be called a Skein. Anyone who sees a flight of migrating geese will see its distinct shape. This flight pattern provides the birds with two main advantages. The […]

Human powered ornithopters- Biomechanics at its best!

It is no surprise that humanity’s first attempts at human powered flight were based on birdlike structures. The first proposed reasonable flying device was proposed by the prodigious artist and engineer Leonardo Da Vinci in 1490 and consisted of a giant bat-looking aircraft that used the pilot’s arms and legs to power the wings. However, […]

Birds Might Dive But Squids Can Fly!

When you think of squid, what do you think of? You may be repulsed by their image, you might get hungry at the thought of eating them, or you may forget what squids really even look like. One thing that doesn’t cross people’s minds however is “I wonder if they can fly?” Ask almost anyone […]

An Acrobatic Speed Demon-The Peregrine Falcon

The Peregrine Falcon is the fastest bird known to man. At speeds approaching 200 miles per hour while diving, it surely deserves its title. This may seem surprising for a bird about the size of a simple crow, but the falcon accomplishes this feat by tucking its wings into its body,reducing its angle of attack–the […]