Although humanity has long been inspired by bird flight, most of our flying machines are nothing like birds. Engineers have struggled to recreate the ease with which birds are able Keep reading
Tag: bird flight
The Best of FYFD 2019
2019 was an even busier year than last year! I spent nearly two whole months traveling for business, gave 13 invited talks and workshops, and produced three FYFD videos. I Keep reading
Underwater Snakes, Gusty Flying, and Microswimmers
If you like your fluid dynamics with a healthy dose of biology, this video’s for you! Learn about the hydrodynamics of snake strikes, how birds fly in gusty crosswinds, and Keep reading
Soaring Pelicans
Earlier this summer, I looked up on a bright, sunny day and saw a quartet of black and white figures soaring overhead. Initially, I thought it might be a formation Keep reading
Flying in Cramped Quarters
A new study has found that budgerigars (also commonly known as parakeets or budgies) fly at only two distinct speeds. The researchers flew the birds in a tapered tunnel to Keep reading
Hawk in Flight
For a little more than century, mankind has taken flight in fixed-wing aircraft. But other species have flown for much longer using flapping techniques, the details of which humans are Keep reading
Falcon vs. Raven
Earth Unplugged has posted some great high-speed footage of a peregrine falcon and a raven in flight. Notice how both birds draw their wings inward and back on the upstroke. Keep reading
Diving Peregrines
Few animals can compete with a peregrine falcon for pure speed. There is evidence that, when diving, the falcon can reach speeds upward of 200 mph (320 kph). That the Keep reading
Hummingbirds Singing with their Tail Feathers
Aeroelastic flutter occurs when fluid mechanical forces and structural forces get coupled together, one feeding the other. Usually, we think of it as a destructive mechanism, but, for hummingbirds, it’s Keep reading
Dove in Flight
This spectacular high-speed video shows a dove in flight. Note how its wings flex through its stroke and the way the wings rotate over the course of the downstroke and Keep reading