A migratory bird has broken a world record by flying 13,560 kilometers non-stop across the Pacific for 11 days without landing once. This strange behavior of the shorebirds was discovered after scientists tracked the remarkable migration using satellite transmitters attached to the birds.
Weighing only a few hundred grams, shorebirds fly non-stop, never stopping to eat, drink or rest on the ground. Research led by migration scientists Phil Battley and Jesse Conklin documented a record flight during the September 2020 migration season.
How the hell did he fly 13,560 km continuously for 11 days
Research that has drawn global attention to the baro-tailed sandpiper’s astonishing endurance and navigational abilities suggests that the migratory bird species undergoes dramatic physical changes to prepare for the long flight. Before their breakthrough non-stop flight, they significantly increase their body mass by storing fat, which serves as the primary fuel to power their journey. In preparation for the journey, some birds almost double their body weight.
This bird makes room to store larger fat stores and embarks on this extreme journey by shrinking parts of its digestive system. The size of his intestines and liver also decreases. As a result, the bird relies on its own intestines to make room for the fat stores that power its wings for nearly two weeks straight.
In addition, the barotail’s brain does not completely sleep during this long journey. According to the research, half of the brain remains active while the other half rests during the 11-day flight. The brain alternates in mid-flight shifts high above the open Pacific.
The goblin navigates with sensitivity to magnetic fields because it is simultaneously unconscious during flight. These physiological changes help the barotail turn into a highly efficient long-distance flyer. One of the longest journeys ever recorded is the migration from Alaska to Australia.
