Philip Torrens wrote: > >Any of the real "birders" on the list (I'm just a dabbler, as it were), want >to confirm or correct my hazy memory: >I believe I remember reading somewhere that eagles (or it may have been some >other birds of prey) not only court in the air but have been known to >consumate the courtship by flying up to maximum altitude, and achieving >congress during freefall. Talk about your mile-high club. Makes using >airplane washrooms seem really wimpy. So, true or flase? - perspiring minds >want to know. > According to The Birder's Handbook, Paul R. Ehrlich et. al., 1988, p. 220, Bald Eagles have "Spectacular aerial courtship, incl locking talons and descending in series of somersaults." However, I don't believe they actually copulate in the air. However, according to Ehrlich p. 319, "Among the most spectacular sights North American bird enthusiasts can see is a mating flight of White-throated Swifts. A group may come swooping down a canyon at high speed, shortly after dawn, with pairs tumbling together as they copulate in midair." I also thought that Frigatebirds copulated in air but I couldn't find a reference. I may be wrong on this. Tony Niilus (a birder) Upland, CA and on p. 319 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Nov 15 1999 - 15:45:12 PST
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