Re: Cost in Aquatic Birds (also short)

["James R. Cunningham" <jrccea@bellsouth.net>]

David Marjanovic wrote:

> Isn't that just the same as flying in air but with a more pronated wing? --

Not necessarily.  The timing of the pronation, supination, and locus of various
points throughout the wing or flipper are very important, to keep from wasting
energy in lift production instead of putting it into thrust production. For
flight in air, it is the appropriate real-time balance between lift and thrust
production that is important for minimising required energy input.

> Where do penguins lie in this range (not to mention dippers...)?

I dunno, I'm sort of curious about it, but haven't had time to look into it.