|
more articles like this
Birds in Gale Force Winds
updated: Apr 30, 2011, 4:40 PM
By David Powdrell
Whenever there are sustained gale force winds in effect, as was the case the other evening, I like to hike out to the ocean bluff and shoot images of the small handful of brave birds that trudgingly make their way north. Using what appears to be every muscle in their body, they inch their way along the coastline, like salmon swimming upstream.
Each feather seems to play a more important role than when flying in calm conditions. Wing dynamics get more interesting when wind speeds begin to exceed 40 knots.
With over 95% of the local bird population opting to sit out the high winds, what's motivating the few that are out there? Mother Nature what she is, I suspect it's for want of food or the desire to get home to a loved one.
But maybe these are the marathon runners of their species, the extreme sport participants of the avian world, the same souls that challenge Mavericks in the surfing world; the climbers of Mt. Everest.
I silently sit and applaud them as I snap their photos.
Send this picture as a postcard
# # # #
Send this picture as a postcard
# # # #
Send this picture as a postcard
# # # #
Send this picture as a postcard
# # # #
Send this picture as a postcard
# # # #
7 comments on this article. Read/Add
# # # #
|
