Birds don't need runways

courage enough faith

Have you ever watched a bird take flight? 

There's a jump and a few wing flaps, and it's airborne. Larger birds like swans and geese take more of a run than a jump because of their size, but even then it doesn't take much.

Their natural design -- strong muscles in the chest and feathers that catch the air and create immediate lift make it so that there's nothing more required than what they came with. 

The bird might watch passenger jets take off and think she needs a fully paved runway, fuel, and flight crew before she's ready to soar, but in reality none of that would make a difference. Her purpose is totally different, and she has everything she needs right there.

All that's left is to jump and flap.