Cockatoo Flying

Because parrots are swift fliers, Eadweard Muybridge’s ambition to record them using chronophotography invites admiration. Cockatoo Flying (1887) is an early example of a bird in flight. For the first time in history, scientists gained the opportunity to analyse in detail the movement of avian wings. Meanwhile, the wider public was able to perceive the beauty of flight with greater clarity. Given the speed of the action, this sequence lacks smooth continuity, making it less suitable for looping on contemporary devices. Nonetheless, this cockatoo plays a key role in the development of motion pictures, proving that the recording technique can work without the need for a flat horizontal plane. The space above became a suitable canvas for subjects that take to the air.