AA63 B763 - birdstrike report + pictures
spotted this on a local newsgroup discussion about a birdstrike incident and wonder if anyone has had any sightings or strikes at those altitudes here in australia...most I ever passed birds at was 3-4 thousand , anyone seen them as high as this ?
"Some Geese (Bare Headed IIRC) have been recorded above 30,000 on many occasions. There are some Swans that regularly cruise above 20,000 when
migrating as do Mallard and some other ducks. Pelicans have been tracked more than a few times to over 40,000 feet. Those sorts of altitudes are
usually only seen during migration though and the birds tend to vary altitude a LOT to try and keep a tail wind. Hitting a Pelican between the eyes with a large aircraft at more than 30,000 at speed doesn't bear thinking about."
considering the partial pressure of oxygen at those altitudes ,I wonder how an animal expending the energy required to keep flapping etc can stay conscious.