Question for people with expertise on birds; how high do the buggers fly? (renamed)
The other day we were climbing out during a leg along the Northeast corridor of the US, near NYC. At approximately 12000 ft AGL, we barely missed an opposite direction bird. I think it was a sea gull or pigeon. Leaning towards sea gull.
My previous highest bird I'd ever seen was a crow flying at 8000' AGL over the California desert.
I thought most birds stayed within 1000' AGL and that it is almost impossible to see a bird at 12000 ft. AGL. Is this correct?
I would think that even long range migratory birds like an albatross or geese stay within a few hundred feet of the surface.
After all, the higher a bird would fly, the more problems the bird would encounter (like an aeroplane), such as thin air to breathe, reduced lift on their wings and cold temperatures, etc.
Also, I've never been to high mountain ranges like the Andes or Himalayas...but are there birds at high altitudes in those places?
So, if there are any bird experts, biology majors, vet wannabees...please chime in.
Also, what is the highest, you've ever seen a bird???