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The Mysteries of Optic Flow
Clip: Season 41 Episode 9 | 2m 58sVideo has Closed Captions
Birds use a trick of the eye called “optic flow” to zip through forests without colliding.
How do birds manage to fly through narrow spaces without constantly bumping into trees or buildings? It turns out that they use a trick of the eye called optic flow. Understanding what optic flow is and how birds use it could help us build a safer world for our feathered friends.
National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.
![NOVA](https://image.pbs.org/contentchannels/iAn87U1-white-logo-41-7WCUoLi.png?format=webp&resize=200x)
The Mysteries of Optic Flow
Clip: Season 41 Episode 9 | 2m 58sVideo has Closed Captions
How do birds manage to fly through narrow spaces without constantly bumping into trees or buildings? It turns out that they use a trick of the eye called optic flow. Understanding what optic flow is and how birds use it could help us build a safer world for our feathered friends.
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NOVA Labs
NOVA Labs is a free digital platform that engages teens and lifelong learners in games and interactives that foster authentic scientific exploration. Participants take part in real-world investigations by visualizing, analyzing, and playing with the same data that scientists use.Providing Support for PBS.org
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Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipNational Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.