RE: FUCHSIA and the Ostrom Symposium Volume (long...)

["paul sparks" <psparks@crosslink.net>]

As far as I have seen in nature and the barn yard; Most of the chickens
I have seen running flap their wings for whatever reason, but in the
wild I have never seen a quail, pheasant, or a roadrunner flap their
wings when running. So I'm at a loss to see what advantage flapping
would do in these cases.

Paul sparks


Subject: Re: FUCHSIA and the Ostrom Symposium Volume (long...)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Graydon" <graydon@dsl.ca>

> Forward stroke to downward stroke is an angle change; there's an
obvious
> If you're looking at _why_ a running animal would flap, well,
presumably
> a cursorial predator needs to apply the predatory stroke _while it's
> running_.

I should have got that idea myself :-] -- but see below...
snip
> That being the case, it really isn't a stretch to have the range of
> flapping behaviours expand; all it takes is some advantage -- in
> turning, or in traction, or in clearing an obstacle -- accrue to
> 'premature' use of the predatory stroke while outside of striking
range
> in pursuit.

But then... will they use the flight stroke?