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<\/p>\nA takeoff technique that has almost been patented by ravens.<\/p>\n
Four days ago I photographed a raven behavior that I’ve seen many times but never been able to document well with photos because I haven’t been able to keep the bird in the frame, and sharp, for that many sequential shots (thanks Canon R5). The behavior involves skipping from one perch to another at the beginning of takeoff, pushing off from both of them with their feet and legs in order to get a little extra acceleration and speed during takeoff.<\/p>\n
It’s a pretty nifty maneuver that I call it a “skip-launch”.<\/p>\n
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Four days ago on Antelope Island this raven was calling repeatedly from ‘his’ rocky perch. Since ravens often take off in the midst of calling, I fired off a short burst each time he opened his bill but he faked me out more than a dozen times before he actually took off. I have many photos that look almost exactly like this one.<\/p>\n
Finally, this time he actually launched. Here his wings are just starting to open at the beginning of takeoff.<\/p>\n
The following seven photos are sequential without any skips. The entire process took less than 7 tenths of a second.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n So far his takeoff is pretty traditional. As with most birds during takeoff, he pushed off with his legs and feet to increase acceleration to help get him airborne.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here I already see a subtle departure from typical takeoff posture, mostly involving his legs and feet. He’s beginning to bring his feet forward in order to…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n use the next rocky projection in front of him as a…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n “touch and go” launching pad. When this photo was taken he hadn’t slowed down one bit. He was still moving forward at speed, which allowed him to…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n increase his acceleration and speed again as he pushed off with his feet and legs a second time during the takeoff process.<\/p>\n So during this “skip-launch” he was able to push off with his legs and feet twice<\/em><\/span>, using them as an accessory to his wings to increase his acceleration and speed. Almost like a fighter jet using its afterburner during takeoff from an aircraft carrier. Well, sort of.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now he’s airborne and…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n on his way, with a little more initial speed that he wouldn’t have had without the skip-launch.<\/p>\n Ravens use this technique fairly often. Other birds are capable of it too but I rarely see birds other than ravens actually doing it, except for other corvids, occasionally but far less often than ravens.<\/p>\n I’m curious, do readers of Feathered Photography, from your experience in the field with ravens and other birds, agree with my observation?<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A takeoff technique that has almost been patented by ravens. (8 photos)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/common-raven-2820-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"common-raven-2820-ron-dudley\\"")
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