Re: Life of Birds (vertical running)

[Graydon <graydon@dsl.ca>]

On Wed, Oct 10, 2001 at 12:42:39AM -0400, Dinogeorge@aol.com scripsit:
> In a message dated 10/9/01 8:49:32 PM EST, ofsosa@uclink4.berkeley.edu
> writes:
> >They aren't grasping the trunk, they are actually running up it,
> >using the force of their flapping to hold them onto the tree.
> >Arboreality is not required.
> 
> What do you mean, "Arboreality is not required"? This
> running-up-a-tree business is arboreality >by definition<. Why would
> they run up a tree if they were just going to come right back down
> again to >avoid< being arboreal??

Nothing says it has to be a tree; it can be a cliff, a gully-bank, a big
rock, a torpid apatosaur, anything to get away.

They'd come back down because food was down there; there's a big
difference between an escape strategy and learning to feed in a tree.

-- 
                           graydon@dsl.ca
               To maintain the end is to uphold the means.