Did You Know That There Is A Bird That Sleeps While It Flies?
Bird sleeping while flying ? Yes, you got it right. Among the different species that live in our green areas, you will surely come across some swift chick. It is he, the famous bird that sleeps while flying . Let’s get to know him better, thanks to this article.
Here is the bird that sleeps as it flies
That’s right, and even if it sounds poetic, the Swift ( Apus Apus ) can spend at least 10 months flying without interruption. This calculation was formulated by the now deceased ornithologist Ronald Lockley. The swift spends most of its life in the air, only stopping to reproduce.
This hypothesis was recently demonstrated thanks to an investigation in which small GPSs were placed on the bodies of these birds. For the experiment, in particular, 13 individuals were chosen, thanks to which it was possible to discover fundamental information for the study of this small migratory bird.
A bird that sleeps while it flies: how is that possible?
However, many still wonder how it is possible that there is a bird that sleeps as it flies. The truth is, there are many birds that have this incredible ability, including the frigate, a two-meter-long bird whose skeleton is ultralight, allowing it to glide for hours.
Others theorize that swifts fly above the clouds to avoid predators and prolong sleep, during which their flapping of wings is drastically reduced.
The truth is that this system is being exploited successfully, since it has been shown that swifts can go almost a year without ever leaning.
The bird that sleeps while flying: a real record
The swift, the bird that sleeps while flying, has many other “record-breaking” behaviors. In addition to its way of sleeping, this migratory bird spends the winter in sub-Saharan Africa and reproduces in spring in Europe.
Like other birds, they are an example of monogamy in the animal kingdom and spend their entire life with the same partner . They possess excellent orientation skills.
In one experiment, some Swiss swifts were transferred to Lisbon and at least half of them managed to return to their original colony. It is also one of the fastest birds in the world, as it can exceed 100 km / h.
The bird that does everything while flying
The swift is not only surprising for the fact that it sleeps while flying. In fact, as he plows the skies, he carries out a considerable amount of activity. It feeds (keeping its mouth open, to catch insects), builds the nest, drinks and even copulates. All, of course, without perching on the ground.
This is why, if you find a swift chick, you have to help him. Its huge wings are not made to take off from the ground. Therefore, if they hit or hit the ground, they will hardly be able to get back into the air without outside help.
As for feeding, the swift opens its mouth as it flies, making great feasting of insects.
