Birds on wires: why favor the lower?

Barn Swallows in migration

September 19, 2015 at 2:09AM
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Here we have Barn Swallows flocking up prior to migration. This was along a country road in South Dakota. Most of the birds chose the lower wire. Every time they flushed and returned, it was the lower of the two wires. Why is that?

(James J. Williams /The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

jim williams