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Birding/Can birds fly in clouds?

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Expert: - 8/24/2006


Question
Can birds fly in clouds? As far as I know it is impossible for humans to maintain a level flight with an aeroplane inside a cloud just by relying on our senses. You can not see the horizon nor feel where the ground is, because of the possible g-forces affecting our balance sense. This is why we have artificial horizon instruments. But what about birds? Can they fly in clouds maintaining their balance? Are there any statistics of birdstrikes in clouds? Hope to hear for an answer for this one.. Thanks.

Answer
Birds can fly in clouds for very short periods only. Just like us, they would get disoriented. They might fly up or down through clouds to get to clear sky but they will not spend much time in them. They  have no special senses and get quickly disoriented when they cannot see the horizon. I know of no statistics on birdstrikes in clouds. Roger Lederer at Ornithology.com

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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