Michael P. asked -

> Actually, I'm tossing out the First Dumb Question of 1997. If birds have
> higher internal temperatures than most critters, why don't we see their
> breath steam on a cold day?
>
> While standing in a line-up for an available ATM on Granville Island this
> aft, I noticed an adult Glaucous-winged Gull (GWGU) on the rooftop above; it
> was outlined against the shadowed underside of the Granville Street Bridge,
> so in good contrast. Just standing there, no big deal. Another adult flies
> overhead, the perched bird opens up with good round of possessive
> 'trumpeting' calls, and *for the first time in my life* I see a bird's
> breath steaming on the cold damp air, and the question that's *never*
> occurred to me before (duh!) arises.

One could postulate that somehow, enough of the moisture from the breath exhaled
through the nostrils is being removed that condensation does not occur. When
exhalation is via an open beak, this removal of moisture does not occur and we
see the exhaled breath condense. Good thesis topic.

- Jack



Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca