Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba) by Ian

Even the stork in the heavens Knows her appointed times; And the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow Observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the LORD. (Jeremiah 8:7 NKJV)

While reading my latest issue of the Birdwatchers Digest, I came across and interesting note about a recent study of the behavior Alpine Swifts that was published in 2013. It was published in the Nature Communications.

“Although observers have claimed that some swifts may stay on the wing for almost their entire lives—except for breeding—there was no solid evidence of this. Then, a team of researchers caught six alpine swifts in Switzerland, tagged them with data loggers (to record the birds’ acceleration and location), and were able to recapture three of them the next year, upon their return from Africa.” (BWD)

After analyzing data, they found that “the swifts appear to fly nonstop when they aren’t breeding. (The swifts eat insects in mid-air, of course, so they don’t starve.) The actual time totals up to a phenomenal 200 days aloft.” (BWD) This posses another question. Do the Swifts actually sleep on the wing? There were indications that this was happening.

The articles go on, but I find this truly amazing. Our Creator used such Wisdom when He made these Swifts. Not only are they able to eat on the wing, but also catch a nap. Wow!

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Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba) by Ian

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. (Psalms 19:2 KJV)

Half of brain asleep article – Interesting Things – Not So Bird-Brained

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• Birds of the Bible
• Birds of the Bible – Swifts
• Apodidae – Swifts
• Birdwatchers Digest
• Nature Communications
• Interesting Things – Not So Bird-Brained

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