Why Birds Fly in a V Formation

This is an interesting article where scientists studying why birds fly in V formation have determined they do so to conserve energy. This was done with the help of a group of bald ibises that were fitted with tracking devices. These ibises  were hatched at Zoo Vienna in March 2011 and raised as part of a conservation project aimed at reintroducing the critically endangered species to its natural range in Europe. Some of the study’s authors served as human foster parents, taking the young birds on training flights in Salzburg, Austria. The humans rode in a paraplane, a lightweight aircraft that looks like a dune buggy attached to a parachute, and the birds followed. Eventually, the foster parents taught the birds their 600-mile migration route from Salzburg to Orbetello, Italy, by flying alongside them. The ibises made it to Tuscany in September 2011. They are expected to spend a few years there and then, if all goes well, migrate back to Salzburg this spring. I'll keep you posted.

Here is the link to one of the articles.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/21/science/bird-data-confirms-that-vs-help-save-energy.html?_r=0

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