Why do birds of prey soar in circles?
Not all do. Many that do are riding the thermals in the air (rising columns of warm air) like a vulture. They look for prey as they circle. Watch birds in front of an approaching storm sometime. THe air flowing inot the front is rising rapidly while cold air at the storm front is sinking in under it. THe vultures and birds of prey will be pushed along ahead of the strom front circling as they go. Those like the Northern Harrier glide and fly in long meadering paths low across open fields. Others hunt from perches divng to catch mice they have spotted from there. Still others fly around in uneven patterns first flyng with flapping wings then soaring in a circle on the rising air thermals as they rest their wings all the while seaching for prey and even hover over their target before they swoop.
