Birds take off by jumping, not flying - new paper

["Thomas R. Holtz, Jr." <tholtz@geol.umd.edu>]

Hi, folks:

A new paper is just out: I've been waiting for this one for a while, since
I've seen various version of Kathleen Earls' research at various
conferences:

Earls, K. D. Kinematics and mechanics of ground take-off in the starling
_Sturnis vulgaris_ and the quail _Coturnix coturnix_. The Journal of
Experimental Biology 203, 725-739 (2000).

It turns out in both these birds (one a small bird, the other a larger
ground bird with small wings) about 80-90% of the initial velocity is
generated by the hindlimb.  Despite previous assumptions to the contrary, it
isn't the wings that are the primary means by which birds get into the air:
in other words, birds aren't airplanes.

Earls proposes a jumping model of take-off as a more logical starting point
for the evolution of powered bird flight compared to previous suggestions
(running take-offs, etc.).

And as a note for those interested: word from the publishers at Gaia is that
the theropod volume (which will be out soon!) will be just over 400 pp long
and mass about 1.4 kg!  Is it a journal, or is a doorstop: you be the
judge... :-)

                Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
                Vertebrate Paleontologist
Department of Geology           Director, Earth, Life & Time Program
University of Maryland          College Park Scholars
                College Park, MD  20742
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/tholtz.htm
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~jmerck/eltsite
Phone:  301-405-4084    Email:  tholtz@geol.umd.edu
Fax (Geol):  301-314-9661       Fax (CPS-ELT): 301-314-7843