Date: Sun, 4 Sep 1994 12:58:44 -1000 From: ajs@stairs.nw.att.com (Alan Sparling) Message-Id: Organization: AT&T Enhanced 9-1-1 Development Subject: Bird vs Kite, bird expresses opinion -- We were out at the field flying today practising for the Mid-American Classic next week, when Dan Brinnehl snapped a beautiful turn and hit a large sparrow which had appeared out of nowhere. The poor bird fell out of the sky, Dan landed his kite and we all went to find this poor bird. We all were wondering just what you were supposed to do with an injured bird, >From the way it fell it looked like it had a broken wing. When we got about ten feet away, the bird flew off to our immense relief. We then went to look at Dans new Reactor Lite, no damage here either other than the bird had expressed himself by emptying its bowels. All over a brand new kite that isn't even in general release yet. Well, the kite cleaned up well, the bird seems to be okay, and Dan is back to practising his routine. Still, what would one do with an injured sparrow? -------------------- Alan Sparling ajs@stairs.nw.att.com Alan Sparling Member of Technical Staff = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 4 Sep 1994 11:58:05 -1000 From: crowell@teleport.com (Carl Crowell) Message-Id: Organization: Kites By Carl Crowell Subject: Re: Bird vs Kite, bird expresses opinion In article ajs@stairs.nw.att.com (Alan Sparling) writes: >Still, what would one do with an injured sparrow? >-------------------- If you get enough of them (4 or 5), they make a tasty soup... carl (who is always ready for lunch...) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 5 Sep 1994 04:24:25 -1000 From: emperor@gotcha.win.net (Philip L. Pomerance) Message-Id: <47@gotcha.win.net> Subject: Re: Bird vs Kite, bird expresses opinion In article , Alan Sparling (ajs@stairs.nw.att.com) writes: >-- >We were out at the field flying today practising for the Mid-American >Classic next week, when Dan Brinnehl snapped a beautiful turn and hit a >large sparrow which had appeared out of nowhere. The poor bird fell out >of the sky, Dan landed his kite and we all went to find this poor bird. >We all were wondering just what you were supposed to do with an injured bird, >from the way it fell it looked like it had a broken wing. When we got about >ten feet away, the bird flew off to our immense relief. We then went to look >at Dans new Reactor Lite, no damage here either other than the bird had >expressed himself by emptying its bowels. All over a brand new kite that >isn't even in general release yet. Well, the kite cleaned up well, the bird >seems to be okay, and Dan is back to practising his routine. > >Still, what would one do with an injured sparrow? >-------------------- > >Alan Sparling >ajs@stairs.nw.att.com > >Alan Sparling >Member of Technical Staff Alan, if the bird broke a wing or a leg, one would splint it carefully, using thin wooden splints. Minimum of movement to put the joint back in place. One could give the bird a teaspoon of 1:10 dilution of rum or other sweet liquor as an aenesthetic, if one didn't have handy any approved avian veterinary aenesthetic. OR, one could take the bird to a local vet. Fortunately, as you and Mr. Brinnehl learned, birds are very hard headed and tend to hit things with their heads, so that a stunned bird will plummet out of the sky and often not suffer any more damage. I'm curious, though. I would have thought that a good sized sparrow hitting what I assume is a fast moving kite should leave a rip in the fabric. No harm? -Phil = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 7 Sep 1994 10:23:38 -1000 From: ajs@stairs.nw.att.com (Alan Sparling) Message-Id: Organization: AT&T Enhanced 9-1-1 Development Subject: Re: Bird vs Kite, bird expresses opinion In article <47@gotcha.win.net>, emperor@gotcha.win.net (Philip L. Pomerance) writes: |> |> In article , Alan Sparling |> (ajs@stairs.nw.att.com) writes: |> |> >-- |> >We were out at the field flying today practising for the Mid-American |> >Classic next week, when Dan Brinnehl snapped a beautiful turn and hit a |> >large sparrow which had appeared out of nowhere. |> |> I'm curious, though. I would have thought that a good sized sparrow |> hitting what I assume is a fast moving kite should leave a rip in |> the fabric. No harm? |> The bird hit the leading edge, from where all of the bird excrement was it was mostly past the kite. I am proud of Dan, he looked for the bird first and at his kite for damage second. I am not sure I would not have checked a brand new kite first. The Reactor Lite is framed in 3p, I am surprised that the leading edge did not break. Since the "normal" Reactor is not out yet, we have been pushing the wind range a bit and out of the ten kites, four have had broken spars. Therefore I expected the leading edge to break on impact with the bird. I know that birds are very light, but I seem to remember that impact is equal to mass time velocity squared, and both the kite and bird were moving quickly. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =