Jan 27, 2010 · They found that birds flying locally soared at low levels, while the birds flying cross-country between foraging and nesting sites flew higher. In fact, most flew near the middle of the boundary layer—between about one-fifth and four-fifths of the way to the top.

Within the troposphere, it is the boundary layer, the lowest 3000 m of the troposphere that is mainly perceived by birds (Fig. 3). The boundary layer is directly influenced by the earth’s surface, ... Studies across a range of taxa and flight modes show that birds fly at slightly higher airspeeds than predicted to conserve energy, although ...

Dec 22, 2023 · They found that frigatebirds fly high enough to skim the edge of the planetary boundary layer, a low layer of the atmosphere that interacts with the surface of the Earth to influence clouds,...

Dec 17, 2023 · A new study shows that great frigatebirds equipped with tiny sensors can give detailed information about the planetary boundary layer. The planetary boundary layer is the dynamic atmospheric...

Nov 29, 2024 · Birds primarily fly in the troposphere. This is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, extending from the Earth's surface to approximately 19,500–32,700 feet (5.9-9.9 km). Almost all bird flight occurs within this range, where air density is sufficient for lift.

Dec 12, 2023 · A new study shows that great frigatebirds equipped with tiny sensors can give detailed information about the planetary boundary layer (PBL), which is the dynamic atmospheric layer that is closest to Earth and where we experience weather, air quality, and climate impacts.

Aug 9, 2021 · A new study in this issue of Current Biology by Åke Lindström, Julia Weber and colleagues 8 now shows that great snipe (Figure 1) at night usually fly at the upper edge of the boundary layer, and that during the day the birds add 2.0–2.5 km to cruising altitudes, reaching maximum heights well above eight kilometres. The authors explain that ...

Aug 9, 2021 · A new study in this issue of Current Biology by Åke Lindström, Julia Weber and colleagues 8 now shows that great snipe at night usually fly at the upper edge of the boundary layer, and that during the day the birds add 2.0–2.5 km to cruising altitudes, reaching maximum heights well above eight kilometres. The authors explain that daytime ...

Mar 24, 2018 · Animals may fly within or above the atmospheric boundary layer, depending on the species, activity phase, and atmospheric conditions. Historically, the science of understanding animal flight in the atmosphere has been termed aerobiology, or a niche within the broader realm of biometeorology.

These expectations were seemingly confirmed by radar observations4, showing that birds do not usually fly higher than about two kilometres above the Earth’s surface, within the planetary boundary layer5.