This is bird note.

Looking out at the ocean, we might just see a chaos of waves and troughs,

but like an expert angler, a turn can read the surface of the water

to find where to catch its next fish. Researchers studying the

the feeding habits of turns piloted a drone to learn how the birds zero in on good

fishing spots. By flying the drone at an altitude of 100 meters, well above the feeding

turns, the scientists got a detailed look at the bird's flight paths without disturbing

them from the hunt. The flight paths showed that the turns seek out turbulent

water. They tend to dive for fish where colliding currents form a vortex. The

swirling water traps small fish near the surface, the perfect place for turns to snatch them up.

When the turn spot new bubbly upwellings at a distance,

they fly to them as the rising currents can bring other prey animals along for the ride.

Using drones to observe airborne birds from a safe distance is helping reveal how they see the world.

For the turns, the water's surface isn't just nice to look at. It's a map to their next meal. For Birdnaut, I'm Mary McCann.

Today's show brought to you by the Bobbleink Foundation.