Soaring raptors can fly at high altitudes of up to 9000 m. The behavioural adjustments to high-altitude flights are largely unknown. We studied thermal- ling flights of Himalayan vultures (Gyps himalayensis) from 50 to 6500 m above sea level, a twofold range of air densities. To create the necessary lift to support the same weight and maintain soaring flight in thin air birds might modify lift coefficient by biophysical changes, such as wing posture and increasing the power expenditure. Alternatively, they can change their flight characteristics. We show that vultures use the latter and increase circle radius by 35% and airspeed by 21% over their flight altitude range. These simple behavioural adjustments enable vultures to move seamlessly during their annual migrations over the Himalaya without increasing energy output to flight in high elevations.


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    Titel :

    High-altitude flights of Himalayan vultures (data from Sherub et al. 2016)-reference-data


    Beteiligte:
    Wikelski, Martin (Autor:in) / Sherub, Sherub (Autor:in) / Fiedler, Wolfgang (Autor:in) / Flack, Andrea (Autor:in) / Weinzierl, Rolf (Autor:in) / University Of Konstanz (Gastgebende Institution)

    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2016



    Medientyp :

    Forschungsdaten


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch





    High-altitude flights of Himalayan vultures (data from Sherub et al. 2016).csv

    Sherub, Sherub / Wikelski, Martin / Fiedler, Wolfgang et al. | DataCite | 2016

    Freier Zugriff

    Vultures Acopian Center USA 2003-2016-reference-data

    Bildstein, Keith L. / Barber, David / Bechard, Marc J. et al. | DataCite | 2016

    Freier Zugriff

    Altitude flights

    Henrickson, H.B. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1931


    Altitude flights

    Hendrickson, H.B. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1929


    Vultures Acopian Center USA 2003-2016

    Bildstein, Keith L. / Barber, David / Bechard, Marc J. et al. | DataCite | 2016

    Freier Zugriff