
ane 
BIRDS CAUGHT SPEED ING 
How fast can birds fly? This question has puzzled ornithologists for 
years until they tracked a ring-necked duck at 66 miles per hour recently-- 
and you can't argue with radar. 
Dr. Wesley E. Lanyon, assistant curator in the department of ornithology 
of the American Museum of Natural History in New York, said this unique way of 
checking flight specd was attained in a cross wind of 8 mep.h. Next speediest 
among the birds tested were a black duck, with 55 MePpehe, and a quail, with 
Lie MeDetie 
A museum spokesman ssid the system consists of a Doppler radar unit 
similar to that used by the police to measure motorists' speed on highways. 
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ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 
Chicago Natural History Museum 
Roosevelt Rd. & Lake Shore Dr. 
Chicago 5, Illinois 

Pericdical Divisicn 
University of Ill. Library 
Urbana, Illinois 
