Whilst spending a miserable weekend in the glorious british weather. I was trundling down my driveway (unintentionally) chasing a pigeon (for some reason they dont like stepping sideways to avoid vehicles).
Anyhow it was a windy day and the pidgeon then proceeded to do a crosswind takeoff (crabbed) until it climbed to about 10ft, then turned and escaped. I always thought they would do a climb into wind...
Got me thinking do any real birds use the "wing down" technique
Although it seems humerous - nature often has elegant ways to solve problems and it just got me wondering if nature does indeed use the wing down or always crabs when necessary, or perhaps if they are commercial birds working for the RSPB then they may combine the both

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