Fancy a whiffle?

[knocker]

When a goose comes in to land, sometimes, if you are lucky, you will see it do a “whiffleâ€. Approaching the water, it twists and turns to spill air from its wings — often ending up completely upside down in the process.

 

What is perhaps even more extraordinary than an upside-down goose is that throughout its contortions the goose’s head stays still and upright.

 

Now scientists have investigated the ability of geese and swans to keep their heads still while flapping and being buffeted in the wind, and have found that they appear to have a neck mechanism like a car suspension.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3211281/Whiffle-wind-Upside-geese-stay-focused-landing-using-internal-suspension-necks.html

 

The role of passive avian head stabilization in flapping flight

http://rsif.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/12/110/20150508

 

[frogesque]

That pic is just plain weird!

[knocker]

There is a video although not brilliant.

 

[Polar Maritime]

Seen this many times. Happens very fast as knocks vid shows. Im sure I've seen Ducks do this to.

Edited August 26, 2015 by Polar Maritime

[gottolovethisweather]

Whiffling always good to see, often better to see that than the load of waffle I hear and see elsewhere. A good article there Knocker, Thanks.