BIRDS

Birds have a body “designed” for flight ! Their bones are light, with spaces full of air, body tapered. They have powerfull muscles to move their wings, and a breastbone like a ship’s prow to cut through the air ! Their wings are specially shaped, and, like the tail, have feathers of many shapes and textures, according to their job.

            Bird’s flight can be ‘gliding’ or ‘beating’. In the gliding flight, the bird slides through the air, wings stretchet out, quite still, carried by currents of air. In ‘beating’ flight, the bird moves its wings like oars, using its tail like a rudder to change direction.

            Most birds take off almost vertically from land or water, body straight and wings beating quickly. Once in the air, it leands is body forward and the wings beat more slowly. For landing, the movements are reversed-straightening its bod and beating its wing quickly before landing.