Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics Commons^™

A Mathematical Analysis Of The Dynamic Soaring Flight Of The Albatross With Ecological Interpretations, Carol Coughlin

Reports

The capability of flight plays a central role in the lives of most birds. Indeed, the existing morphological and ecological characteristics of many species are almost entirely dictated by the aerodynamic requirements of the highly developed flight modes they have acquired through evolutional specialization. In the case of such species, a clear understanding of the aerodynamic mechanisms underlying the particular flight modes can often provide a lucid insight into the basic physical relationships which govern a bird's characteristic activities and behavior.

This aerodynamic approach to the study of avian ecology is particularly useful in the case of soaring birds, where …