Flying Against the Wind, Dropping a Side, and Turning
Three notes on how birds descend on one side and come about in the wind
Three short notes on bird manoeuvres, with pen sketches of birds in flight, including one shown gliding above a horizon line. The first observes that thrushes and other birds willingly fly against the wind. The second explains that to descend on one side the bird throws that wing down quickly, and the impetus of the movement tips it onto that side. The third describes coming about in a north wind: the bird drives a wing downward, turns, and enters to leeward with its back to the wind.
On this page
Birds fly willingly against the wind
Thrushes and other birds willingly fly against the wind. The remark opens the page as a general observation before the two manoeuvres that follow.
Dropping onto one side by throwing that wing down
When the bird wishes to descend low on one of its sides, it throws down quickly the wing on the side toward which it wishes to go, and the impetus of that movement makes the bird drop on that side.
Coming about to face a north wind
When the tramontana blows and the bird is carried along by it, and it wishes to turn back to face the wind, it drives its wing downward, turns, and enters to leeward with its back to the wind.