I've been staring at birds for so long I often take their ability to fly for granted. It really is an amazing feat. For starters, a whole suite of flight feathers, primaries, secondaries, and coverts, mold the shape of the wing, providing lift and propulsion. A one-way circular respiratory system, with specialized sacks that fill the body cavity with air, allows for both an efficient breathing pattern and exchange of oxygen to fuel the flight muscles. The exaggerated keel of the sternum serves as an attachment point for the supracoracoideous and pectoralis muscles, enhancing the leverage necessary to pump the wings. Like the fuselage of any modern aircraft, many fused bones, hollow in most species, form a rigid lightweight skeletal frame. Most importantly, beyond the physical build of birds, is the ability to harness the wind. To coordinate the wings, the muscles, the breathing; to create lift and become airborne. Flight is a learned skill, and as this season comes to an end, many fledglings will soon leap from the comfort and safety of their natal cliffs, open their wings, and for the first time experience what must be the thrill of flight.
Canon EOS 60D, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM + 1.4x, ISO-400 f/5.6 @ 1/4000 sec.
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