Wake analysis of aerodynamic components for the glide envelope of a jackdaw (Corvus monedula)

What is it about?

As a bird moves through the air, air resistance (drag) will work to slow it down. In gliding flight, a bird exchanges height (potential energy) for speed (kinetic energy) to overcome this air resistance. In this study we trained a bird to glide in a wind tunnel. We set the glide angle and air speed, so that the bird had to adjust its posture to produce the right amount of drag. We then measured various components of drag from the wake behind the bird. This way we could find out how the bird controls the various sources of drag to achieve a desired flight trajectory.

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