Page 170 - For Men of Understanding

The "V" type flight formation.
FLIGHT TECHNIQUES
In addition to having been created ready to endure such arduous flights,
birds are also gifted with skills that enable to them to make use of favourable
winds.
For instance, storks go up as high as 2,000 m with rising warm air currents,
and then glide along swiftly to the next warm air current without beating their
wings.
Another flight technique used by bird flocks is the "V" type flight formation.
In this technique, big strong birds at the front function as shields against
counter air currents and lead the way for the weaker. Aeronautical engineer
Dietrich Hummel has proved that with such organisation, a saving of 23% is
achieved in the flock in general.

FLIGHT AT HIGH ALTITUDE
Some migrating birds fly at very high altitudes. For instance geese can fly
at an altitude of 8,000 m. This is an incredible altitude considering the fact that
even at 5,000 metres the atmosphere is 63% less dense than at sea level. Flying
at such a height where the atmosphere is so thin, the bird has to beat its wings
faster and hence has to find more oxygen.
However, the lungs of these animals are created in such a way as to take
maximum benefit from the oxygen available at these heights. Their lungs,
which function differently from those of mammals, help them obtain higher
level of energy from scarce air.

When the bird ascending in the warm air current reaches the top, it glides down swiftly. This helps the bird
save a great amount of energy both in ascent and descent.

168 For Men of Understanding