Birds at play. Recreational flying?

[Pinefinch]

Most of the smaller birds concentrate on their constant foraging. Some of the larger birds, in particular rooks, often seem to fly at some height for no purpose that is apparent to me. Are they aviating for the sheer pleasure of so doing or am I being too fanciful? Buzzards are another bird that very often fly at an altitude too high for them to be hunting prey. Does anyone share my thoughts?
Regards to all
Pinefinch.

[Dogghound]

These birds are likely on thermals which reduces the amount of energy they need in flight. Predatory species like buzzards often look for prey from a great hight the can cover more area and see more potential prey.

[Jonners]

Hello Pinefinch and welcome to WAB. I like that idea; if it was me, I think I would love to soar for the pleasure. Reality would probably demand that my survival would dictate that I take little time off for pleasure alone, but it's a wonderful idea

[Doggle Avaddit]

This is rather interesting, if you can manage to trawl through it!!

(Seems it is not that easy to even define "play")


Intentional Communication and Social Play: How and Why

[nigel_b]

Hi pinefinch and welcome to wab.

Despite having a low post count on this forum, which seems to automatically qualify me as a beginner with an inflated ego, I'd still like to comment regarding bird of prey eyesight. A buzzard has extremely fine eyesight and is almost certainly hunting while wheeling about the sky. The high altitudes you see them at are small compared to those a peregrine will achieve.

Whilst watching a peregrine on the coast here in Dorset last summer, I lay on my back and watched it through 8x binoculars (Nikon HGs) circle higher and higher. There was not a cloud in the sky and it circled and climbed until it turned into a dot and then disappeared. I was astounded!

I think among other things birds need to hunt, defend their territory, avoid predators and also keep fit but whether they fly just for the fun of it, that's a great question!

[SheffieldLass]

When woodpigeons do their display flight they do look as if they enjoy the soar down. But that may be just my interpretation as it does look fun ...

[RKB]

Large-winged birds like buzzards also use thermals simply to get around. Flapping takes a lot of energy, so they use a thermal to lift them up for free, and then they glide down to where they want to be using gravity for free but covering distance as they do it. Then they can maybe catch another thermal and repeat the process. This is how many raptors and storks migrate, using a series of thermals.

[Amoeba]

I've seen flocks of feral (nesting in a stone bridge near by) and domestic pigeons (living across the street) just fly in circles. Over and over and over again, just in circles, all in the same direction. Not very big circles. But it's repetitive.

Can't think what purpose it could serve, I've often wondered if they're just doing it for the exercise.

[posie]

Originally Posted by Amoeba

I've seen flocks of feral (nesting in a stone bridge near by) and domestic pigeons (living across the street) just fly in circles. Over and over and over again, just in circles, all in the same direction. Not very big circles. But it's repetitive.

Can't think what purpose it could serve, I've often wondered if they're just doing it for the exercise.

I can see a rookery from here, and the rooks take off from the tree do a circle and then land back on the tree. They do it every day for quite long periods of time. At other times they come out in twos, on a straight path, just for say, 10 seconds, then turn and go back to trees. It looks to me as though they are playing on the thermals, cos there is very little wing movement, and I thought they were doing it either to practice 'flying' on the thermals, or just for something to do. Why not?.., I find watching the circular 'flight' very relaxing, almost hypnotising...Very therapeutic..

[artdemole]

4 Buzzards were just above a willow tree this morning.All they were doing was just taunting the local crows-rooks.The took their time to fly off into the big blue yonder