Re: Campbell's even crazier than a MANIAC? (archeopteryx climbing)

[jrc <jrccea@bellsouth.net>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "evelyn sobielski" <koreke77@yahoo.de>
To: <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Sent: Monday, September 29, 2008 2:10 PM
Subject: Re: Campbell's even crazier than a MANIAC? (archeopteryx climbing)


> Their anatomy allows such postures, they are not too stupid to grok 
> aerodynamics  (the avian brain is arguably the single best technology on 
> Earth to do this kind of aerodynamic calculations), they do it when it is 
> appropriate. It does not play a major or even very significant role in 
> their flying, because small perchers are optimized in a different 
> direction.

Off topic.  Ginny (Robert's widow) loved to see examples of the words he 
introduced to the language show up in every day useage.  I wish she were 
still with us so I could send this one to her.  I miss Ginny.

On topic.  Having a brain capable of grokking aerodynamics doesn't mean that 
they go about it in the same way that we do.  For example, migrating swans 
generally don't adjust for crosswinds during their flights.  They tend to 
fly the no-wind heading for a radius about equal to the expected distance 
between origin and destination, then turn transversely to intersect their 
destination.  A very inefficient way of doing it.
JimC