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Geese ride 'roller coaster' to navigate Himalayas
Bar-headed goose in-flight
"It is generally more efficient to reduce the overall costs of flying by seeking higher-density air at lower altitudes."

Decreasing air density at higher altitudes reduces bird's ability to produce lift
 
Geese adopt a 'roller coaster' strategy during high altitude flights across the Tibetan plateu and Himalayan Mountains, a study by Bangor University has revealed.

Led by Dr. Charles Bishop from the School of Biological Sciences, the research team used custom-designed data loggers to monitor pressure derived altitude, body accelerations and heart rate of bar-headed geese during their southern migration from their breeding grounds in Mongolia to their wintering grounds in South-easter Tibet or India.

The study showed that geese perform a sort of roller coaster ride through the mountains, essentially tracking the underlying terrain -  even if it means repeatedly shedding altitude only to have to regain height later in the same or subsequent flight.

The scientists say that the birds adopt this strategy as flying at progressively higher altitudes becomes more difficult, as the decreasing air density reduces the bird's ability to produce the lift and thrust required to maintain flight.  The birds are also faced with a reduction in oxygen availability as the atmospheric pressure falls from 100 per cent at sea level to around 33 per cent at the top of Mt. Everest.

Robin Spivey, the Research Officer on the project and developer of the data logging equipment, said: “We have developed two independent models to estimate changes in the energy expenditure of birds during flight”.

“One based on changes in heart rate and one based on the vertical movements of the bird’s body. These indicate that, as even horizontal flapping flight is relatively expensive at higher altitudes, it is generally more efficient to reduce the overall costs of flying by seeking higher-density air at lower altitudes.”

The paper, 'The roller coaster flight strategy of bar-headed geese conserves energy during Himalayan migrations, by Charles M Bishop et al', is published in Science

Image (C) Lip Kee

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.