Incredible recorders attached to a group of "Andor condor" birds revealed unbelievable, as birds spent only 1% of their time in the sky flapping their wings, and most of the flaps occurred during take off. As one of the birds flew more than five hours, crossing more than 160 km, without beating its wings.
The heaviest bird in the world: According to a report by the British newspaper The Guardian, published on Monday 13 July 2020, a scientific study has highlighted the efficiency of the world's largest flying bird flying air currents to stay high in the sky for hours without failing its wings. The condor wings of the Andes are 3 meters long and weigh up to 15 kg, making it the heaviest bird in the world.
For the first time in history, a team of scientists linked recording equipment they called "daily notes" with eight condor birds in the Patagonia region of Argentina to record each pulse in the wing over a period of more than 250 flying hours.
"Condor birds are experienced pilots, but we did not expect that they would be so expert," said Professor Emily Shepherd, a study participant and biologist at Swansea University in Wales.
While David Lentink, a Stanford University bird flight expert who did not participate in the research, explained, "The discovery that condor birds do not flap their wings and just fly is impressive."
Scientific explanations: For birds, the sky is not an empty space, but an area full of hidden features; From gusts of wind, to warm high air currents and airflow driven upwards by landmarks such as mountains.
Learning to ride wind currents allows some birds to travel long distances while reducing the effort to flap their wings.
In general, scientists who study flying animals classify flying into two types: flying by flapping wings, and flying through flight. Brett Tobalsky, an aviation expert at the University of Montana, who did not participate in the study, said the difference between the two types of flight could be like switching a bike up a ramp, as opposed to switching it down a ramp.
Previous studies had shown that white storks and eagle-eagle birds flutter for up to 17% and 25%, respectively, of the total time of their migratory wild trips.
"Rubbish Excavator": Sergio Lamprocci, a study participant and biologist at the National University of Comahue in Argentina, said that the experience of the Andean condor in flight is essential to the lifestyle of the ramp hunt that requires him to circulate for hours a day over the high mountains in search of cadaver as a meal.
"When you see a condor floating around, know that it is taking advantage of the thermal highs of the air," or increased wind blowing, Lamborchi added.
It is reported that the recording devices were programmed to stop the birds from appearing about a week after their installation.
Hence, it was not an easy process to recover. "Sometimes devices would fall into nests on huge cliffs in the middle of the Andes, which would require us a three-day trip, just to get to the equipment sites," says Lamprucci.