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From: pamp@bcsaic.UUCP (pam pincha)
Newsgroups: net.origins
Subject: Re: astronomers, flesh and blood gliders, out-of-context quotes
Message-ID: <311@bcsaic.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 19-Sep-85 18:32:32 EDT
Article-I.D.: bcsaic.311
Posted: Thu Sep 19 18:32:32 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Sep-85 06:11:18 EDT
References: <395@imsvax.UUCP>
Reply-To: pamp@bcsaic.UUCP (pam pincha)
Organization: Boeing Computer Services AI Center, Seattle
Lines: 28
Summary: 

In article <395@imsvax.UUCP> ted@imsvax.UUCP (Ted Holden) writes:
............(a series of ramblings on why gliding can't be applied
		to the pterydactles question)
>
>     Now, we've  all seen vultures take off from low ground by simply spreading
>their wings and ascending  into the  rising heat  waves coming  off the ground,
>haven't we?   

Actually if one watches the gliders amoung the birds these accusations
still are wrong. Take albatrosses for, instance. Walking is not one of
their strong points, in fact they are notoriously awkward on the ground
(hence their nickname -"gooney birds). They only require a step or two
and a spread of their wings to catch wind and thermals. Little or no
flapping is needed. (Come to think of it there's nothing to keep
pterydactls from a flap or two either.) This is espcially true when
they are floating on water. They don't get a running start there.
Yet they are amoung the best gliders in the bird world.

As for vultures, they don't fly much after they've eaten. They also
just spread their wings, give a short step or two, and jump into a 
bit of the wind and fly (have seen them in the hot Texas country side). I have
also seen seagulls do the same -- without flapping--just picking up a
5 mile an hour breeze. (It's even more fun in storms-- they fly backwards
then ). 

I suggest a little intensive bird watching.

P.M.Pincha-Wagener


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