Seagulls 2010
Most gulls don’t bother to learn more than the simplest facts of flight, how to get from shore to food and back again. For most gulls, it is not flying that matters, but eating.
Watching seagulls fly can be a serene and fascinating experience. Seagulls are known for their graceful flight and their ability to effortlessly glide through the air. Here are a few interesting facts about seagulls and their flight:
Wing Shape and Flight Technique: Seagulls have long, narrow wings that are perfectly adapted for soaring and gliding. They use an aerodynamic technique called “dynamic soaring” to maximize their flight efficiency. This involves taking advantage of wind currents and adjusting their wing positions to gain altitude and maintain speed.
Adaptability: Seagulls are highly adaptable birds and can be found in various environments, including coastal areas, lakes, and even urban settings. Their ability to soar and hover allows them to search for food effectively and navigate different habitats.
Flight Patterns: Seagulls often fly in a distinctive “V” formation when traveling long distances. This formation helps reduce wind resistance and conserves energy by taking advantage of the updraft created by the birds in front.
Soaring and Hovering: Seagulls are skilled at soaring, which involves flying without flapping their wings for extended periods. By catching rising air currents, such as thermals, they can stay aloft effortlessly. Additionally, seagulls can hover in one spot by adjusting their wing position and using wind gusts to maintain their position in the air.
Flying Adaptations: Seagulls have certain adaptations that enhance their flying abilities. For example, they have hollow bones, reducing their weight and making flight easier. Their feathers are also specially designed to be waterproof, allowing them to fly in rainy conditions.
Watching seagulls in flight can provide a sense of tranquility and a connection to nature. It’s interesting to observe their graceful movements and the way they interact with their environment. Enjoy the beauty of their flight!
When he discovers the technique of flying
How much more there is now to living! Instead of our drab slogging forth and back to the fishing boats, there’s reason to life! We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can be free! Not only that, but we can learn to fly!
Quotes from Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach.
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3 Comments
Lou, years ago we would sometimes dock our boat overnight at the Trump Castle Marine. I would be struck by the gulls circling high above the casino in the lights that the casino projected up into the night sky. The gulls weren’t flying; they were just soaring as though on thermals, and I thought, they were just enjoying themselves, something we don’t think of birds doing. Later, however, in our cynical world someone told me that they were just circling in the updrafts to catch mosquitos. So much for my theory.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Seagulls which are very much part of the shore ecosystem.
I’m sorting through pictures trying to find a group for a show, it’s a difficult task to find the best of
your own work. Take care Lou
Nice flight photo.