Page 55 - Design in Nature

Flawless Flying Machines: Birds 53

How could the bird know how much fat is needed?
How could the bird manage to acquire all this fat before flight?
How could it calculate the distance and the amount of fuel it needs to
burn?
How could the bird know that conditions in Hawaii are better than

Alaska?
It is impossible for birds to reach this knowledge, to make these
calculations, or to make group flights according to these calculations. This is
an indication that the birds are "inspired" and directed by a superior power.
Likewise Qur'an draws attention to "birds lined up in flight" and informs us
about a consciousness that is inspired in these creatures by Allah:

Do you not see that everyone in the heavens and earth glorifies
Allah, as do the birds with their outspread wings? Each one knows
its prayer and glorification. Allah knows what they do. (Surat an-
Nur: 41)

Have they not looked at the birds above them, with wings outspread
and folded back? Nothing holds them up but the All-Merciful. He
sees all things. (Surat al-Mulk: 19)

5. Digestion System
Flight requires a great deal
of power. For this reason birds
have the largest muscle-
tissue/body-mass ratio of all
creatures. Their metabolism is
also in tune with high levels of

muscle power. On average, a
creature's metabolism doubles as
the body temperature increases Birds prefer to travel in flocks on long trips. The "V"
0
0
by 50 F (10 C). The sparrow's formation of the flock enables each individual bird to
save about 23% energy.