How do birds such as seagulls fly without flapping their wings?
Birds can fly without flapping their wings (1) by taking advantage of Updrafts and (2) thanks to their Wing Shape. 1. Updrafts Some birds can fly and remain almost still for long periods by taking advantage of upwardly moving air currents (updrafts). Air is constantly in motion, both horizontally (as wind) and vertically (up and down). Updrafts can be caused by the sun heating the ground, which warms the surrounding air, causing it to rise. Rising pockets of hot air are called thermals. There are also topographic updrafts where wind hill has to rise to climb over a hill. When flying without power, birds are always going down relative to the air around them it is only because the air is rising at least as fast as they are falling that they manage to stay still. This Weather Doctor web site has information about different types of updrafts. Seabirds at the coast benefit from the offshore and onshore winds and updrafts that result from land and sea being at different temperatures. In addi
