Brushing the ice - Canada Geese flying low
Final Goose flight shot for this week! The wing tip of the bird on our left is just brushing the surface of the frozen lake.
Flying this low may give them greater lift from 'ground effect' - the air between the wing and the surface below becomes slightly compressed and provides a little extra lift - meaning it take less effort to fly. It is a well known phenomenon, encountered by landing aircraft. Geese do this even when the water isn't frozen, and can occasionally be seen dipping their wing tips in the water, as they fly low over the surface.
Brushing the ice - Canada Geese flying low
Final Goose flight shot for this week! The wing tip of the bird on our left is just brushing the surface of the frozen lake.
Flying this low may give them greater lift from 'ground effect' - the air between the wing and the surface below becomes slightly compressed and provides a little extra lift - meaning it take less effort to fly. It is a well known phenomenon, encountered by landing aircraft. Geese do this even when the water isn't frozen, and can occasionally be seen dipping their wing tips in the water, as they fly low over the surface.