Did you know birds wings flap with an up and down motion which propels them forward, but it is not just that. The wingspan in its entirety has to be at the right angle of attack and the wings twist automatically with each downward stroke. This allows the bird to be aligned with the direction of its chosen trajectory. Also, a bird’s wing produces lift and thrust during the downward stroke of the flap, the air is deflected downwards, and for the bird to move forward it also deflects it to the rear. The bird changes its angle of attack and partially folds its wing on the upward stroke. This makes the bird pass through the air with the least possible air resistance. The inner part of the wing has very little movement and can provide lift in a similar way to gliding. This is how other birds, like eagles and other species of bird, soar through the air without flapping their wings. This is really interesting to me because I love the maths of aerodynamics, which makes me really proud of the picture I’ve captured which shows a bird’s aerodynamics in action.
