Slow-motion footage has revealed how a hovering hummingbird is able to cope with wet weather. The cameras show that the delicate bird shakes its heads with such acceleration that it can reach a g-force of 34 (Formula 1 racing cars typically reach less than 6g). This mid-air manoeuvre takes just 0.1 seconds and removes almost all of the water droplets from its feathers. The research is published in the journal of the Royal Society Interface. Professor Robert Dudley, one of the authors of the study, from the University of California, Berkeley, said: \"It is the extreme mobility - its head is going through 180 degrees in a 10th of a second or less - it is just extraordinary.\" Artificial rain The Anna\'s hummingbird is found in cloud forests and the neo-tropics where rainy days are common, and is able to remain active even in very wet weather. Anna\'s hummingbird The Anna\'s hummingbird high-speed drying technique could inspire engineers Yet, until now, nobody knew how the bird did it. To find out, the researchers trained their hi-tech cameras on a bird as it fed from its feeder, and then sprinkled it with water. Lead author of the study Dr Victor Ortega-Jimenez, from the University of California, Berkeley, said: \"We simulated three different types of rain - and the hummingbirds did this extreme oscillation in light, medium and heavy rain. \"It seems it is a common behaviour of hummingbirds.\" The researchers were surprised that the hummingbirds were able to generate such extreme forces while in flight. Professor Dudley said: \"We know visual information is the key to flight control, and, obviously, when you are shaking your head, you don\'t have that input of flight acceleration, and yet they remain basically stable - they are not falling out of the air.\" The scientists said their findings could help engineers to develop micro air vehicles that could cope with unsettled weather or even washing machines with an improved drying spin.
GMT 09:59 2017 Saturday ,09 December
Militias, poachers wreak havoc on central Africa's wildlifeGMT 15:16 2017 Thursday ,30 November
Norway to put up fence to stop reindeer slaughterGMT 10:06 2017 Wednesday ,18 October
Human remains found in large Australian crocGMT 12:44 2017 Monday ,16 October
India man-eating tiger dies after being electrocutedGMT 15:16 2017 Sunday ,08 October
White tiger cubs maul keeper to death in IndiaGMT 11:56 2017 Saturday ,07 October
From poacher to ranger: saving China's Siberian tigersGMT 09:37 2017 Wednesday ,27 September
Wildlife groups accused of funding abuses against Pygmies in AfricaGMT 18:57 2017 Tuesday ,26 September
Japan kills 177 whales in Pacific campaign: governmentMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©