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#1
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05-05-2012, 04:18 PM
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 ♚ Legacy Gold Member ♚ Poster Rank:34 Female Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 43,403
Contributions: 204
Mentioned: 95 Post(s) Quoted: 2281 Post(s)
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The Amazing Duck
What's that thing flying at the cruising altitude of a modern jet? In a deadly cold, without air? Common ducks routinely reach altitude of 5 to 6 kilometers (20,000 feet)  We see them all the time, rowing across a clear, blue sky, applauding into the air when we startle them, singing their sharp, sweet songs in the trees, spiraling, spinning over our heads … but when you take a bit of time and do a smidgen of research, you realize that birds are fascinating creatures, capable of some truly remarkable things. Take, for example, the members of the anatidae family. Not familiar with them? Sure you are: aside from the city pigeon, they are probably one of the first birds people think of. Still fuzzy? Well, think ‘season’ and you might very well jump to ‘duck.’ It’s common knowledge that many birds migrate – some halfway around the world, others not very far at all – but a few species of duck travel amazing distances as part of their regular travels, and at phenomenal speeds. The black brant is one such record holder, making the trip from the cold climes of Alaska to the much-warmer lands of Baja, California. No need to do the math: that’s more than 3,000 miles. A distance, by the way, covered in less than 72 hours. The ill-respected duck is also a record holder for not just distance and time but also altitude. Although they commonly aren’t high flyers, preferring to stay relatively close to the ground, ducks have been recorded soaring to close nearly 20,000 feet (that's more than 6 kilometers). That most definitely is a ‘wow’ thing but what’s an even bigger – more like a real big WOW – is that a duck skeleton was found at 16,000 feet … in the form of a skeleton on Mount Everest. (this scientific paper discusses how ducks can actually breath and keep their body warmth at these altitudes) For altitude, ducks are amazing, no denying that, but if you want to get really, really high you have to look at the extremely ugly Rüppell's Vulture. That might not be fair to the bird, but ugly or not this vulture wears a handsome medal for going where no bird, or even a lot of airplanes, have gone. Ducks, sure, deserve applause for 20,000 feet but the Rüppell's Vulture goes more than just one better, attaining a remarkable 38,000 feet (almost 12 kilometers). Alas, the record was set when the poor bird got sucked into a jet engine at that height but you still have to admit that it was quite an accomplishment  |
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#4
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05-06-2012, 06:24 AM
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 Verräter An Gott Poster Rank:1001 Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 690 Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Quoted: 1 Post(s)
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Re: The Amazing Duck
he's ahead of the curve on this one thats for sure  @Sharon- gah I keep having to correct myself from calling you Sadako >.< And I knew ducks could reach high altitudes but I didn't realize they could get that high and survive, very interesting read  I love the gore and violence but I also love informative threads like these <3 keep em coming Miss Sharon ^w^
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