Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
On March 30, 1987, an Alaskan Airlines jet was forced to make an unscheduled stop
after the plane had a midair collision with a fish. During takeoff, right after it was too
late to stop, the pilot suddenly saw several eagles flying above the plane. He gave a sigh
ofreliefasherealizedhisflightpathwassafelybeneaththemassivebirds,butoneeagle
apparently was startled and dropped its fish, which slammed into a small window at the
topofthecockpit. Thepassengers, crew,andeagle allsurvivedwithout injury,anddam-
age to the plane was minimal. The only fatality was the fish.
Q Great Blue Herons look a lot like Sandhill Cranes, but someone told me they're
not related, and that it had to do with their feet. True or false?
A
Herons and cranes do look a lot alike, superficially; but they have evolved in entirely
different lines, and their feet show some important differences. Herons nest and roost in
trees, and so they have a long, strong back toe that allows them to cling to branches.
Cranes nest on the ground and never perch in trees. Their back toe is tiny and raised —
completely worthless for perching. If you see a footprint with long, unwebbed toes, that
