Birds in Flight
The Art and Science of How Birds Fly
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
They soar and they glide, they flap and they flutter, they swoop and they plummet. Solo or en masse, in formation or pas de deux, birds in flight are in their element, their airborne behavior as varied and distinctive as their plumage. In this book, wildlife biologist Carrol Henderson, a twenty-year veteran of bird-watching around the globe, offers his insights into spotting and identifying birds in flight. With 150 of Henderson’s exquisite close-up photographs of airborne birds, as well as diagrams illustrating the principles of flight and detailed information based on firsthand research, this book is as informative as it is simply delightful to look at. The singular beauty of an iridescent hummingbird pollinating a flower, the majesty of a condor soaring above the Andes, the impressive spectacle of migrating geese in Minnesota, black storks in Kenya, or Swainson’s hawks in Bolivia: in your back yard or far afield, this guide lets you enjoy the beauty of birds taking wing while learning the fascinating science of how, precisely, birds fly.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Wildlife biologist Henderson is a renowned wildlife photographer and author (Oology and Ralph's Talking Eggs). His latest is much more than the sum of its beautiful photos, answering in remarkable detail a question that has fascinated humans for eons: how birds fly. Using his photographic records of myriad species to lay out the fundamental principles of avian aerodynamics, Henderson explains how birds' bodies are structured for flight and how each species uses flight in its particular ecological niche. He describes how the morphologies of bone, feather, wing and tail combine to help birds find food, evade predators, migrate and interact with other birds. Beautifully rendered drawings by Steve Adams illustrate concepts of lift, drag, thrust and airflow, with plenty of photos showing the principles in action; one highlight is the illustration of the albatross's wingtip vortex, which creates circular airflow to provide extra lift. Other diagrams show how birds use thermals and updrafts to soar, and the unique hovering abilities of the hummingbird. Henderson's lovely, informative volume will be enjoyed by anyone who wants to learn about, or teach about, the biology and mechanics of bird flight. 150 color photos, 15 diagrams.
