The roller coaster flight strategy of bar-headed geese conserves energy during Himalayan migrations

Geese need to hug the land to fly high Animal migrations provide numerous examples of astonishing feats. Impressive even among these is the migration of bar-headed geese across the Himalayan Mountains, which reach heights of thousands of meters. Bishop et al. remotely monitored birds' heart rates, movement, and body temperature during migration. The geese “hug” the landforms, taking advantage of drafting and wind patterns. This unexpected strategy conserves energy, even though it means the geese repeatedly lose, and must then regain, altitude. Science , this issue p. 250

The roller coaster flight strategy of bar-headed geese conserves energy during Himalayan migrations Journal Articles