Why do anhingas soar? (1 Viewer)

[DuckNorris]

Can anybody give an explanation why anhingas soar?

I live in South Florida not far from the Everglades.

I've been working from home since Covid. I take "binocular breaks" in which I go out in my yard and stand under a shade tree with bins and look around for a few minutes a few times a day.

I look up for soaring birds and flyovers, and I think I am more likely to see an anhinga, or two, or three, way up there soaring around than anything else (e.g. black vultures).

Are the anhingas maybe scanning the lakes and canals below for fish? Do they have some other purpose for this activity?

 

[Lisa W]

You made me curious, but even Cornell Lab of Ornithology ( www.all about birds.com ) didn’t say. Maybe they just enjoy it, and it does save them energy.

 

[Hauksen]

Hi,

Are the anhingas maybe scanning the lakes and canals below for fish? Do they have some other purpose for this activity?

I don't know about Aninghas, but generally, birds capable of exploiting thermal updrafts for soaring tend to go much higher than usual when travelling longer distances. They circle up, then change their wing shape and depart in straight and fairly fast flight. If that's part of what you're seeing, I'd say your Aninghas are going to someplace that's not in your immediate vicinity.

Regards,

Henning

 

[DuckNorris]

Hi,



I don't know about Aninghas, but generally, birds capable of exploiting thermal updrafts for soaring tend to go much higher than usual when travelling longer distances. They circle up, then change their wing shape and depart in straight and fairly fast flight. If that's part of what you're seeing, I'd say your Aninghas are going to someplace that's not in your immediate vicinity.

Regards,

Henning

Usually I lose sight of them while they're still soaring, but I have seen them take off in a straight line going fast like that.