Poor flight performance in deep-divers

[trux]

This study may be especially of interest for Herbert Nitsch, Bill Graham, and other pilots rofl

Poor flight performance in deep-diving cormorants. [J Exp Biol. 2011] - PubMed result

Note that the cormorants monitored by the researchers, dive as deep as Herbert. Their deepest dives were 94m, but that's certainly not the official cormorant world record, just a common daily dive, so I bet they could compete with Herbert quite well. On the other hand, Herb may have managed to preserve his flight performance better (but we would need to ask his colleagues or passengers - who knows, finally). The study does not tell whether cormorants carry empty Coke bottles for easier equalizing, but since they dive constant weight, they probably know it is forbidden in that discipline.

 

[Bill]

Tnx Ivo. It would be fun to sit down and talk to the authors about their observations.

I'll never forget looking out into clear blue water one day and watching what appeared to be a smily face approach. This face stuck up his ears, alternating left and right. When he veered to go around me the round ball turned into a long bird and the alternating ears became flippers. Cormorants are goofy looking creatures but they sure can dive.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Now I feel better about my poor diving performance. I was a hell of an F-4 pilot.