Birds at Altitude

What's the highest altitude that you ever saw a bird swoop past your plane?

The other day I was flying at 5000' MSL, over land that was mostly about
1000' (so 4000' AGL) and saw a flock of birds, hawks of some sort I think,
one of which came close enough to make me quite nervous (although from the
way he was flapping I think he was much more nervous than I was).

I don't think I've ever seen birds above 3000' MSL / 2500' AGL or so before
and I was pretty surprised...

Do birds typically stay low, or have I just been lucky until now?

Judah wrote:

What's the highest altitude that you ever saw a bird swoop past your plane

I was once returning to my home airport at 4,000 feet msl when ATC called
"traffic ahead, primary target only, slow moving, probably migratory
birds."

We spotted the birds, a flock of Canada geese at what appeared to be 5,500
feet or so. This was in central NY state, USA.

--
Peter

Judah wrote:
What's the highest altitude that you ever saw a bird swoop past your plane?

The other day I was flying at 5000' MSL, over land that was mostly about
1000' (so 4000' AGL) and saw a flock of birds, hawks of some sort I think,
one of which came close enough to make me quite nervous (although from the
way he was flapping I think he was much more nervous than I was).

I don't think I've ever seen birds above 3000' MSL / 2500' AGL or so before
and I was pretty surprised...

Do birds typically stay low, or have I just been lucky until now?


I just flew past an eagle at 12,400 msl yesterday, This was about 5700
agl AGL. I see and watch for them up there all the time. The migration
for flocks of birds are starting this month too but they usually cruise
southbound at 9000 msl or so.

Ben
Jackson Hole Wy

wrote:
Judah wrote:
What's the highest altitude that you ever saw a bird swoop past your plane?

The other day I was flying at 5000' MSL, over land that was mostly about
1000' (so 4000' AGL) and saw a flock of birds, hawks of some sort I think,
one of which came close enough to make me quite nervous (although from the
way he was flapping I think he was much more nervous than I was).

I don't think I've ever seen birds above 3000' MSL / 2500' AGL or so before
and I was pretty surprised...

Do birds typically stay low, or have I just been lucky until now?


I just flew past an eagle at 12,400 msl yesterday, This was about 5700
agl AGL. I see and watch for them up there all the time. The migration
for flocks of birds are starting this month too but they usually cruise
southbound at 9000 msl or so.

http://www.fws.gov/blackwater/Canadagoose.htm
"Geese have been observed at altitudes of 29,000 feet"

The highest a bird has ever been spotted is about 38,000 msl.

You may find this web-site interesting: http://www.usahas.com/



Andrey


Judah wrote:
What's the highest altitude that you ever saw a bird swoop past your plane?

The other day I was flying at 5000' MSL, over land that was mostly about
1000' (so 4000' AGL) and saw a flock of birds, hawks of some sort I think,
one of which came close enough to make me quite nervous (although from the
way he was flapping I think he was much more nervous than I was).

I don't think I've ever seen birds above 3000' MSL / 2500' AGL or so before
and I was pretty surprised...

Do birds typically stay low, or have I just been lucky until now?

I am clearly no expert on bird physiology, but what the heck is a bird
breathing at 38,000msl????

Possibly a small canister on its back with a little 'birdie-canula' strapped
to its beak?
"Andrey Serbinenko" wrote in message
...
The highest a bird has ever been spotted is about 38,000 msl.

You may find this web-site interesting: http://www.usahas.com/



Andrey


Judah wrote:
What's the highest altitude that you ever saw a bird swoop past your
plane?

The other day I was flying at 5000' MSL, over land that was mostly about
1000' (so 4000' AGL) and saw a flock of birds, hawks of some sort I
think,
one of which came close enough to make me quite nervous (although from
the
way he was flapping I think he was much more nervous than I was).

I don't think I've ever seen birds above 3000' MSL / 2500' AGL or so
before
and I was pretty surprised...

Do birds typically stay low, or have I just been lucky until now?

Bird brain doesn't need much oxygen to function.


"pgbnh" wrote in message
...
|I am clearly no expert on bird physiology, but what the
heck is a bird
| breathing at 38,000msl????
|
| Possibly a small canister on its back with a little
'birdie-canula' strapped
| to its beak?
| "Andrey Serbinenko" wrote
in message
| ...
| The highest a bird has ever been spotted is about 38,000
msl.
|
| You may find this web-site interesting:
http://www.usahas.com/
|
|
|
| Andrey
|
|
| Judah wrote:
| What's the highest altitude that you ever saw a bird
swoop past your
| plane?
|
| The other day I was flying at 5000' MSL, over land that
was mostly about
| 1000' (so 4000' AGL) and saw a flock of birds, hawks of
some sort I
| think,
| one of which came close enough to make me quite nervous
(although from
| the
| way he was flapping I think he was much more nervous
than I was).
|
| I don't think I've ever seen birds above 3000' MSL /
2500' AGL or so
| before
| and I was pretty surprised...
|
| Do birds typically stay low, or have I just been lucky
until now?
|
|

"Jim Macklin" wrote in message
news:VxfOg.22644$SZ3.246@dukeread04...
Bird brain doesn't need much oxygen to function.


Let's take Skyloon up and prove or disprove that theory.

"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATcox.net wrote in message
...

"Jim Macklin" wrote in message
news:VxfOg.22644$SZ3.246@dukeread04...
Bird brain doesn't need much oxygen to function.


Let's take Skyloon up and prove or disprove that theory.

There goes another keyboard! :~)

pgbnh wrote:
I am clearly no expert on bird physiology, but what the heck is a bird
breathing at 38,000msl????

Just because he's there doesn't mean he meant to be.

I'm guessing that if a bird gets caught up in some lee wave lift (which
can exceed 50k) he might just climb and die from hypoxia or temperature.
as in 'bird brain'. Pure conjecture though.