High-altitude flights of Himalayan vultures (data from Sherub et al. 2016)-reference-data

Wikelski M, Sherub S, Fiedler W, Flack A, Weinzierl R. 2016. High-altitude flights of Himalayan vultures (data from Sherub et al. 2016)-reference-data. Movebank Data Repository. https://doi.org/10.5441/001/1.143v2p2k/2

Abstract

Soaring raptors can fly at high altitudes of up to 9000 m. The behavioural adjustments to high-altitude flights are largely unknown. We studied thermal- ling flights of Himalayan vultures (Gyps himalayensis) from 50 to 6500 m above sea level, a twofold range of air densities. To create the necessary lift to support the same weight and maintain soaring flight in thin air birds might modify lift coefficient by biophysical changes, such as wing posture and increasing the power expenditure. Alternatively, they can change their flight characteristics. We show that vultures use the latter and increase circle radius by 35% and airspeed by 21% over their flight altitude range. These simple behavioural adjustments enable vultures to move seamlessly during their annual migrations over the Himalaya without increasing energy output to flight in high elevations.

Keywords

aerodynamic,animal movement,animal tracking,avian migration,Env-DATA,GSM telemetry,Gyps himalayensis,Himalayan vulture,Movebank,non-powered flight,thermalling

DOIs of related Publications

https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2016.0432

URI

https://datarepository.movebank.org/handle/10255/move.572

BibTex

@misc{001/1_143v2p2k/2,
  title = {High-altitude flights of Himalayan vultures (data from Sherub et al. 2016)-reference-data},
  author = {Wikelski, M and Sherub, S and Fiedler, W and Flack, A and Weinzierl, R},
  year = {2016},
  URL = {http://dx.doi.org/10.5441/001/1.143v2p2k/2},
  doi = {doi:10.5441/001/1.143v2p2k/2},
  publisher = {Movebank data repository}
}

RIS

TY  - DATA
ID  - doi:10.5441/001/1.143v2p2k/2
T1  - High-altitude flights of Himalayan vultures (data from Sherub et al. 2016)-reference-data
AU  - Wikelski, Martin
AU  - Sherub, Sherub
AU  - Fiedler, Wolfgang
AU  - Flack, Andrea
AU  - Weinzierl, Rolf
Y1  - 2016/10/24
KW  - aerodynamic
KW  - animal movement
KW  - animal tracking
KW  - avian migration
KW  - Env-DATA
KW  - GSM telemetry
KW  - Gyps himalayensis
KW  - Himalayan vulture
KW  - Movebank
KW  - non-powered flight
KW  - thermalling
KW  - Gyps himalayensis
PB  - Movebank data repository
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.5441/001/1.143v2p2k/2
DO  - doi:10.5441/001/1.143v2p2k/2
ER  -

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