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: Why do pelicans fly so low? - Bay Nature magazine ◦ April-June 2012
Ask the Naturalist
Why do pelicans fly so low? by Michael Ellis
June 12, 2012
Q: Why do pelicans fly so low over the water? I’ve seen it many times, but only recently considered that it must take work to fly so low without falling in. [ Tamara, Oakland]
A: It turns out that Paul Ehrlich answered this very question in a 1988 guide to the birds of Stanford University, of all places: “ Skimming permits the birds to take advantage of an aerodynamic phenomenon known as ‘ground effect.'” When a bird, or an airplane, flies less than a wingpsan’s distance from the ground, flight is much more efficient due to slight changes in airflow patterns around the wing. Land is usually too cluttered with grass and trees and whatnot to permit such flight, but calm Bay waters are perfect for it.