Flamingos, often perceived as graceful creatures, exhibit peculiar feeding behaviors that involve rapid bill movements and foot stomping. These antics, seemingly absurd, serve a critical purpose as the birds filter feed on shrimp and algae in wetlands. Researchers, led by Saad Bhamla from Georgia Tech, reveal that flamingos create vortices while feeding, effectively enhancing their foraging success. This discovery underscores the sophistication of the flamingos' approach, highlighting their knowledge of fluid dynamics even though their actions may seem misguided at first glance.
"All of their feeding behavior is so weird," says Steven Whitfield, the director of terrestrial and wetlands conservation at the Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans, La.
"Flamingos are doing everything wrong, it seems like," says Saad Bhamla, a biophysicist at Georgia Tech University who studies how animals use physics to solve problems.
The entire flamingo feeding process is actually a tour-de-force in fluid dynamics. The bird is creating vortices in the water with almost every move.
Of course, flamingos know perfectly well what they're doing, and now so does Bhamla's group.
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