Soaring Birds

[Dan Marotta]

Long ago, I read in Soaring Magazine (I think) that crows don't soar. This
morning, I watched three crows thermalling right outside my living room
window. I went and stood in the window for a couple of minutes and watched
the three of them hanging tight and climbing. After a while, they headed
out on course!

Last summer a friend and I were standing on Sandia Crest watching the crows
ridge soaring. One in particular was having a great time. We watched him
pull up sharply and execute 3 snap rolls in succession and then reverse
course on the ridge. And, to prove it wasn't a fluke, that feathered
aviator reversed again, gained speed in the ridge lift, pulled up, and did 3
more snap rolls!

I have no doubt - crows enjoy flying!

Now, if spring soaring season would only arrive...

[BravoCharlie]

On Feb 16, 6:16*pm, "Dan Marotta" > wrote:
> Long ago, I read in Soaring Magazine (I think) that crows don't soar. *This
> morning, I watched three crows thermalling right outside my living room
> window. *I went and stood in the window for a couple of minutes and watched
> the three of them hanging tight and climbing. *After a while, they headed
> out on course!
>
> Last summer a friend and I were standing on Sandia Crest watching the crows
> ridge soaring. *One in particular was having a great time. *We watched him
> pull up sharply and execute 3 snap rolls in succession and then reverse
> course on the ridge. *And, to prove it wasn't a fluke, that feathered
> aviator reversed again, gained speed in the ridge lift, pulled up, and did 3
> more snap rolls!
>
> I have no doubt - crows enjoy flying!
>
> Now, if spring soaring season would only arrive...

I suspect they were Ravens.

[BobW]

On 2/16/2012 7:30 PM, BravoCharlie wrote:
> On Feb 16, 6:16 pm, "Dan > wrote:
>> Long ago, I read in Soaring Magazine (I think) that crows don't soar. This
>> morning, I watched three crows thermalling right outside my living room
>> window. I went and stood in the window for a couple of minutes and watched
>> the three of them hanging tight and climbing. After a while, they headed
>> out on course!
>>
>> Last summer a friend and I were standing on Sandia Crest watching the crows
>> ridge soaring. One in particular was having a great time. We watched him
>> pull up sharply and execute 3 snap rolls in succession and then reverse
>> course on the ridge. And, to prove it wasn't a fluke, that feathered
>> aviator reversed again, gained speed in the ridge lift, pulled up, and did 3
>> more snap rolls!
>>
>> I have no doubt - crows enjoy flying!
>>
>> Now, if spring soaring season would only arrive...
>
> I suspect they were Ravens.

"What Bob C. said."

That said, I've seen swallows (barn and violet green) soaring, and it wouldn't
surprise me if plenty more species of birds not generally thought of as
soaring birds, soar. The only great blue heron I ever saw soaring was from a
sailplane; we were both about 6,000' agl.

Regards,
Bob W.

[KevinFinke]

Good link that explains some of the difference's between Crows and
Ravens. The article does seem to suggest that crows will soar, but not
for very extended periods of time. I suspect this is due to the
smaller overall size of the bird and it's subsequent lower aspect
ratio wings.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/crowfaq.htm#raven

-Kevin

[Hagbard Celine]

It's rare, but I have seen crows soaring. Definitely crows, not
ravens. I've only seen it twice in eleven years of soaring though.

[T8]

On Feb 16, 9:58*pm, BobW > wrote:
>The only great blue heron I ever saw soaring was from a
> sailplane; we were both about 6,000' agl.

I've seen great blue herons thermal and go imc into the bottoms of cu.

-Evan Ludeman / T8

[Richard[_9_]]

On Feb 17, 5:36*am, T8 > wrote:
> On Feb 16, 9:58*pm, BobW > wrote:
>
> >The only great blue heron I ever saw soaring was from a
> > sailplane; we were both about 6,000' agl.
>
> I've seen great blue herons thermal and go imc into the bottoms of cu.
>
> -Evan Ludeman / T8

Butterflys thermal and go imc into the bottoms of cu.

Could'nt resist!

Richard
craggyaero.com

[Dan Marotta]

You're probably right. Unless I get a close look, or see a crow and a raven
sitting side by side, I have trouble telling them apart.


"BravoCharlie" > wrote in message
...
On Feb 16, 6:16 pm, "Dan Marotta" > wrote:
> Long ago, I read in Soaring Magazine (I think) that crows don't soar. This
> morning, I watched three crows thermalling right outside my living room
> window. I went and stood in the window for a couple of minutes and watched
> the three of them hanging tight and climbing. After a while, they headed
> out on course!
>
> Last summer a friend and I were standing on Sandia Crest watching the
> crows
> ridge soaring. One in particular was having a great time. We watched him
> pull up sharply and execute 3 snap rolls in succession and then reverse
> course on the ridge. And, to prove it wasn't a fluke, that feathered
> aviator reversed again, gained speed in the ridge lift, pulled up, and did
> 3
> more snap rolls!
>
> I have no doubt - crows enjoy flying!
>
> Now, if spring soaring season would only arrive...

I suspect they were Ravens.

[Dan Marotta]

Without an AHRS??? ...Sorry...


"T8" > wrote in message
...
On Feb 16, 9:58 pm, BobW > wrote:
>The only great blue heron I ever saw soaring was from a
> sailplane; we were both about 6,000' agl.

I've seen great blue herons thermal and go imc into the bottoms of cu.

-Evan Ludeman / T8

[Sean Fidler]

they have it ;-)

[lynn]

On Feb 16, 6:16*pm, "Dan Marotta" > wrote:
> Long ago, I read in Soaring Magazine (I think) that crows don't soar. *This
> morning, I watched three crows thermalling right outside my living room
> window. *I went and stood in the window for a couple of minutes and watched
> the three of them hanging tight and climbing. *After a while, they headed
> out on course!
>
> Last summer a friend and I were standing on Sandia Crest watching the crows
> ridge soaring. *One in particular was having a great time. *We watched him
> pull up sharply and execute 3 snap rolls in succession and then reverse
> course on the ridge. *And, to prove it wasn't a fluke, that feathered
> aviator reversed again, gained speed in the ridge lift, pulled up, and did 3
> more snap rolls!
>
> I have no doubt - crows enjoy flying!
>
> Now, if spring soaring season would only arrive...

I have never seen crows soaring but last summer circled with swallows
(Martins?) at 11,000ft on a X/C here in Texas. Unfortunately one
impacted the horizontal stabilizer and died. Felt it hit and saw bits
of feathers later upon return to the field.

[Morgan[_2_]]

In Central California we have crows at the coast and Ravens inland.
The crows do indeed soar out here, but not to any great extent and
mostly they focus along the ridges and bluffs taking advantage of
ridge lift. Thermal wise, we're pretty limited on the coast by the
marine influence but I have seen them thermal on offshore days
especially.

The Ravens are great soaring birds. The only problem is that they
like to play around a lot and that makes them jokers of the sky. I
think they've figured out that if they circle, a big white glider will
come over to investigate. Then they seem to barrel roll, split S and
generally have a good laugh at the big white suckers.

On Feb 17, 8:39*am, lynn > wrote:
> On Feb 16, 6:16*pm, "Dan Marotta" > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Long ago, I read in Soaring Magazine (I think) that crows don't soar. *This
> > morning, I watched three crows thermalling right outside my living room
> > window. *I went and stood in the window for a couple of minutes and watched
> > the three of them hanging tight and climbing. *After a while, they headed
> > out on course!
>
> > Last summer a friend and I were standing on Sandia Crest watching the crows
> > ridge soaring. *One in particular was having a great time. *We watched him
> > pull up sharply and execute 3 snap rolls in succession and then reverse
> > course on the ridge. *And, to prove it wasn't a fluke, that feathered
> > aviator reversed again, gained speed in the ridge lift, pulled up, and did 3
> > more snap rolls!
>
> > I have no doubt - crows enjoy flying!
>
> > Now, if spring soaring season would only arrive...
>
> I have never seen crows soaring but last summer circled with swallows
> (Martins?) at 11,000ft on a X/C here in Texas. Unfortunately one
> impacted the horizontal stabilizer and died. Felt it hit and saw bits
> of feathers later upon return to the field.