There are many reasons why birds fly over water. Before diving into this topic let's take a pause and see which birds do this
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| a bird flying near to the water surface |
Here's a list of bird species that are known to fly low over water:
1. Seagulls
2. Terns
3. Pelicans
4. Skimmers
5. Cormorants
6. Herons and Egrets
7. Plovers
8. Skuas
9. Frigatebirds
10. Petrels and Shearwaters
Here are the 7 reasons why birds fly low over water
1. Food: Birds, especially those like seagulls, herons, and pelicans, have keen eyesight. "Keen eyesight" means having a very sharp or strong vision.
This sharp and strong vision helps them to spot fish swimming near the surface of the water.
In easy language by flying low, they can get a better view of the water and easily spot their prey.
2. Safety: Flying low over water helps birds avoid predators in a few ways like Limited Ambush Opportunities.
Predators like hawks and eagles often hunt by surprise attacks from perches like trees or cliffs.
When birds fly low over water, there are fewer places for predators to hide and launch such attacks.
Another advantage is they get open space water bodies usually lack the dense vegetation that predators use for cover on land.
This open space makes it harder for predators to approach undetected, giving birds a better chance to spot them and escape.
3. Navigation: Imagine you're a bird flying high up in the sky, trying to find your way during migration.
Below, there's a vast landscape with lots of different features like forests, mountains, and fields. But in the middle of that, there's a big, shimmering lake or a winding river.
Now, these water bodies stand out. They're like big, blue arrows pointing in the right direction.
Birds can use them as landmarks, kind of like how we might use a big mountain or a tall building to help us know where we are.
So, during migration, birds can spot these water bodies from high up and use them to stay on track.
let's take an example to understand how flying low over water helps birds in navigation.
Let's say a group of migrating geese is flying from their breeding grounds in the north to warmer areas in the south for the winter.
Along their route, they encounter a large river, like the Mississippi River in the United States or the Nile River in Africa.
As the geese fly south, they spot this river below them.
They know that their destination is generally in the southern direction, and seeing the river helps confirm that they're on the right path.
4. Resting: When birds fly low over the water to rest their wings, they take advantage of the reduced air currents near the surface.
This allows them to glide more easily and use less energy compared to flying at higher altitudes where winds can be stronger and more turbulent.
Flying low over water also provides birds with a relatively safe and stable environment to take a break during long flights.
They can land on the water's surface if needed, giving their wings a rest and conserving energy before continuing their journey.
Additionally, the proximity to the water allows birds to quickly access food and hydration if necessary, further supporting their resting behavior.
5. Cooling Off: Birds can cool off while flying low over water through a process called evaporative cooling.
When a bird flies low over water, the air near the surface of the water is often cooler due to the water's temperature.
As the bird flies through this cooler air, moisture from the water evaporates into the air around it.
When water evaporates, it absorbs heat from its surroundings, including the bird and the air.
This process of evaporation helps lower the temperature of the air immediately surrounding the bird.
As the bird continues to fly low over the water, it can benefit from this cooler air, which helps to regulate its body temperature and provide relief from the heat of the environment.