Avian wing geometry and kinematics of a free flying barn owl in flapping flight

Abstract

This paper presents results of wing shape measurements performed at free flying barn owls in flapping flight. The applied measurement technique is introduced together with a moving camera setup, which was developed to measure the shape of the wings and the body of birds in free flight allowing for an investigation of the their flapping flight with high spatial and temporal resolution. Based on the measured wing shapes, a methodology for parameterizing the wing profile (camber, thickness) during flapping flight has been developed. This allowed a description of the spanwise varying kinematics and the effective angles of attack of the wing in dependence on flapping phase.