Page 98 - G5.1_M1-5

myNotes
September 7

13:40

28 They birth in the air.
29 One after another, one of the creatures—a female I now realize—
would soar to a great altitude, seven thousand feet or so. I increased my
lift so I could rise with them and keep watch. The female put her head to
the wind and angled her wings so she was hovering. Then something
dropped from her hindquarters. It happened so quickly all I was aware of
was a small dark bundle plunging away from her. At first I thought it was
merely her droppings. But I quickly realized it was too large. And the

female’s behavior was most curious. Immediately she went into a dive too,
keeping pace with the falling object.
30 The object wobbled in the air and seemed to enlarge, even as it fell past
me. It was spreading its wings. It was no bigger than a kitten, but its
wings, as they unfurled, were many times the width of its body. Out went
the wings, instinctively angled so that the newborn’s plunge began to slow
dramatically. After a moment or two I saw the wings lift and push
tentatively, then again, and again, each time with more force.

31 It was flying.
32 From the moment of birth, it knew how. How could such a thing be
possible? Incredible! But then, does not the newborn whale, born into the
element of water, know instantly how to swim? Why could it not be so
with this creature, then? Only air and not water was its element.

33 The mother flew close alongside its child, as if giving advice,
monitoring its progress.
34 I watched more females make the climb to the birthing altitude and
then release their newborns into the air.

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