Title: Why do pelicans fly so low? -
Headings: Why do pelicans fly so low?
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Why do pelicans fly so low?
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Content: We have two species offshore–the black-footed and Laysan albatross, which nest thousands of miles from here. In light winds, albatrosses take advantage of the slight air pressure differences created by rising and falling waves. They rise against the air backed up by the wave crest and then drop down again. Albatrosses can even fly against the wind using little or no energy. They repeatedly cross the boundary between areas of different wind speed (lower just above the water, faster ten feet up). They fly against the wind to gain altitude (rising into the gust), then zigzag down (falling into the lee) to gain speed. The external nostrils, called nares, found in this group of seabirds (including petrels and shearwaters) are suspected to aid in detecting airspeed in the same way that airplanes use a device called a pitot tube (the little L-shaped thing that sticks out the side of a plane). So next time you’re watching pelicans or, if you’re lucky, albatrosses flying low or soaring overhead, tip your hat to two champions of energy conservation. Send your questions to atn@baynature.org. About the Author
Michael Ellis
Send your questions to atn@baynature.org.