THE WORLD’S FASTEST BIRDS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1935, Page 15 (Supplement)

THE WORLD’S FASTEST BIRDS

Some Attain Speed Of More . Than 100 Miles An Hour

PROMINENT aeroplane manufacturers and aviation experts in Great Britain are at present studying the shape of animals and fishes, in the hope that they will be able to obtain hints on body-building. For although nothing living on land, or under the sea, or in the air, can travel as continuously fast in its respective sphere as a man-made _ machine, many creatures are relatively speedier—when their weight and size are taken into consideration. For instance, the lapwing, which, when endurance is taken into account, is probably the fastest of birds, can normally reach, and maintain, a top-speed of 80 miles an hour. And recently this was exceeded, with the aid of a following wind. Marked lapwings were released in Ullswater, Cumberland, England, and were shot in Canada 24 hours later! They crossed the Atlantic, with a following wind, at an average speed of 100 miles an hour! In The “Sunday Observer” recently, Mr E. G. Boulenger had an interesting article on the subject. “It is generally agreed,” he declared, “that the greyhound, which reaches a speed of 60 miles an hour, and the equally fast hunting leopard, or cheetah, of India, which has been used since time immemorial for chasing such speedy creatures as the gazelle and hare, are the swiftest of ground creatures.” And he pointed out that Mr David Pollock, Acting District Officer at Mbeya, in Tanganyika Territory, has timed Thompson’s gazelle and found that it can maintain a speed of 50 miles an hour for a considerable time. So the cheetah must be even speedier to catch such an animal. The giraffe, buffalo and ostrich were winded after a comparatively short distance, travelled at 35 miles an hour. Again, although the kangaroo makes astonishing leaps, and seems to cover the ground more rapidly than a bushfire, it can be caught by the kangaroo-dog. And the moral is that animals such as dog, cheetah and horse, which when rating flat out, do so with body “streamlined” are faster over long distances. Streamline among creatures has itself been the result of evolution. Life probably had its beginning in the waters, and to-day it is among the speediest of under-water creatures that the streamline has reached perfection. Yet the earliest records show that originally the streamline body was unknown. Nature, in a sphere where counteracting resistance is most important—namely, water —evolved the streamline. The ■ speediest of under-water creatures are torpedo-shaped. Mr J. R. Norman, assistant keeper in the Department of Zoology in the British lateral History. Museum,

thinks that the swordfish and its allies are the fastest swimmers. But the tunny is another speedy fish, and it also covers vast distances. The pike, according to Mr Norman, has a cruising range of between eight and 10 miles an hour, and. the salmon 10 miles an hour. But this is merely a cruising speed, and when they are either chasing prey, or escaping an enemy, these fish travel at a much faster rate. The whale is probably the only mammal that has taken any notice of streamline advantages. It is believed that originally whales were land animals, and took to the water in order to escape more powerful foes, and to find, at the same time, more easily conquered prey. They gradually jettisoned land encumbrances, and can now travel at a good 20 knots. So much for land and sea creatures. Their speeds are good guides to the makers of cars, boats and submarines. But it is to the bird that the aeroplane designer must, after all, first look; and Colonel Richard Meinertzhggen, an eminent authority on bird speeds, has provided interesting statistics. A few years ago the speed of birds was largely a matter of guesswork, but by using modern anti-aircraft equipment, accuracy in estimation and measurement of speeds is now possible. And Colonel Meinertzhagen declares that birds, like fishes, and animals, indeed, like human beings, and aeroplanes, have two speeds. The first is for normal travel, including migration. A sort of passenger, air-mail speed! The second is for special purposes, defence, or attack—a sort of Scott-Black and Schneider Cup speed. And it is interesting to note that the higher speed is nearly double that of the ordinary rate! His estimate is that various birds are capable of the following

As will be seen, the Lapwing, which has been referred to above as the fastest long-distance bird, is only third on the list. Apparently Colonel Meinertzhagen does not consider that the swallow, in spite

of the long distances it travels, maintains the same pace over such distances as the Lapwing, But the lesson that scientists have learned from birds and fish and animals alike is that the fastest for lengthy passages are those which nature has endowed with a streamlined body.

speeds:— Miles Bird. An Hour. Lammergeiers .. 110 Swallows .. 106 Lapwings .. 80 Ducks .. .. .. 59 Geese .. .. .. 55 Pelicans .. 51 Starlings .. 48 Storks .. .. .. 48 Partridges .. .. 40 Rooks .. .. .. 40 Ravens .. 39 Pigeons .. 36 Finches .. .. .. 33 Pheasants .. 33 Waxbills 30