Birds wings flap with an up-and-down motion. This propels them forward. To maintain alignment with the direction of travel, the wings must automatically twist with each downward stroke in order for the entire wingspan to be at the right angle of attack.
For a bird to produce lift, its wing shape is crucial. A longer air path is produced by the increased speed over a curved, larger wing area. This indicates that the air is passing over the wing’s upper surface more quickly, which lowers air pressure there and produces lift. Additionally, the wing’s tilt deflects air downward, producing lift and a reaction force in the opposite direction.
The bird or plane is more maneuverable and can fly more slowly while maintaining lift when its wing loading number is lower.
Soaring flight is a special kind of glide. When birds soar over land, they create a rising air current known as a thermal. The bird is able to maintain its height in relation to the ground because the air is rising. Moreover, albatrosses soar for extended periods of time without flapping their wings. They employ a technique called dynamic soaring, which makes use of the ocean winds to create lift as they form an S shape over the crests and troughs of waves. This kind of flying is how albatrosses sustain their multi-year sea journeys.
A birds wing produces lift and thrust during the downstroke. The air is deflected downwards and also to the rear. To minimize resistance as it soars through the air, the bird lowers its angle of attack and partially folds its wings on the upward stroke. Similar to gliding, the inner section of the wing can produce lift despite having very little movement.
Celebrate Urban Birds works to co-create community science initiatives that are equity-based, inclusive, and bilingual in order to benefit communities that have historically been marginalized or excluded from citizen science, conservation, and birding. Through fair knowledge exchange, improved accessibility, highlighting underrepresented perspectives and experiences, and consciously promoting community ownership and scientific research leadership, the project aims to advance better science. The project has co-developed procedures to co-design, test, and execute scientific research and programming with a focus on racial equity alongside participating communities.
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