Birds are remarkable creatures capable of amazing feats of endurance. One particular bird stands out for its unbelievable non-stop flight: the bar-tailed godwit. This medium-sized shorebird completed a 7,145 mile (11,500 km) journey without stopping, flying for 11 days straight from Alaska to New Zealand.
How do we know the bar-tailed godwit flew for 11 days straight?
Scientists were able to track the record-breaking flight of a female bar-tailed godwit named E7 in 2007. She was fitted with a satellite transmitter by researchers in New Zealand before making her way to Alaska to breed. The next year, E7 embarked on her return trip across the Pacific Ocean to New Zealand. The transmitter allowed scientists to closely monitor her progress as she flew without stopping for more than a week across the ocean.
The satellite data showed that E7 took off from the Yukon Delta in western Alaska on August 13th and landed 11 days later on August 24th at the Firth of Thames in New Zealand. She averaged a ground speed of around 36 mph (58 km/h) and flew approximately 6,340 miles (10,200 km) per day during her non-stop flight. Her total flight distance was 7,145 miles (11,500 km) – the longest known non-stop flight of any bird tracked by satellite.
Key Facts About E7’s Record Flight
- Took off from Alaska on August 13, 2007
- Landed in New Zealand 11 days later on August 24, 2007
- Flew 7,145 miles (11,500 km) total distance
- Average ground speed of 36 mph (58 km/h)
- Flew approximately 6,340 miles (10,200 km) per day
This incredible feat is equivalent to a human running 4 or 5 marathons every day consecutively for nearly two weeks straight without sleep or rest. E7’s extreme endurance shows the astounding capabilities of bar-tailed godwits and bird migration in general.
How do bar-tailed godwits fly for so long without stopping?
Bar-tailed godwits have several key adaptations that allow them to undertake such extraordinarily long flights without stopping:
- Fat reserves – Prior to migration, bar-tailed godwits load up on body fat to fuel their journey. They nearly double their body weight by storing fat deposits. The fat provides energy to keep them flying.
- Efficient wing design – Their wings are perfectly shaped for lengthy, sustained flight with few flaps. This allows them to glide for long distances without exerting much energy.
- Special organs – They have adapted organs like enlarged hearts, lungs, and livers to maximize oxygen circulation during flight.
- No waste – Their metabolic systems are highly efficient, producing little waste that would need to be expelled. They are able to shut down non-essential systems to conserve energy.
- Sleep in flight – They likely sleep by alternating between brain hemispheres, allowing one half of the brain to rest at a time.
These specializations enable bar-tailed godwits to stay aloft continuously for days on end through grueling conditions on their migratory journeys.
How Bar-Tailed Godwits Stay Aloft for 11 Days Straight
| Adaptation | Description |
|---|---|
| Fat Reserves | Store large amounts of body fat before migrating to fuel long flights |
| Efficient Wings | Specially shaped wings allow them to glide long distances without flapping much |
| Adapted Organs | Enlarged hearts, lungs, and livers maximize oxygen circulation in flight |
| No Waste | Highly efficient metabolic systems produce little waste that needs to be expelled |
| Sleep in Flight | They can sleep by alternating hemisphere brain rest |
What conditions do bar-tailed godwits encounter on 11-day non-stop flights?
On these marathon migrations over the Pacific, bar-tailed godwits fly through all sorts of challenging conditions non-stop:
- Weather extremes – From rain and high winds to clear skies, they fly through all weather. Even flights straight through major storms.
- Temperature swings – They experience temperatures ranging from freezing cold to scorching heat as they pass through different latitudes and weather systems.
- Coastal and ocean routes – Their routes take them on long passages over open ocean and along coastlines, with few good places to rest.
- No food/water – They fast for the entire 11+ days, with no opportunities to eat, drink, or land.
- Sleep deprivation – They experience extreme sleep deprivation but find ways to sleep while flying.
- Exhaustion – The physical and mental exertion over 11 days of marathon flight is extremely taxing.
Challenging Conditions Faced in 11 Days of Non-Stop Flight
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Weather Extremes | All weather – rain, wind, storms |
| Temperature Swings | Freezing cold to scorching heat |
| Coastal/Ocean Routes | Over open ocean and coastlines |
| No Food/Water | Fast for 11+ days |
| Sleep Deprivation | Extreme lack of sleep |
| Exhaustion | Physically and mentally taxing |
Despite all these challenges, bar-tailed godwits are physiologically and mentally adapted to endure such conditions on their marathon migrations across the planet.
How do bar-tailed godwits navigate on 11-day non-stop journeys?
Bar-tailed godwits rely on several biological tools for navigating accurately on these extraordinary migrations:
- Magnetic compass – They can sense the Earth’s magnetic field to orient themselves in the proper direction.
- Star navigation – They use stars, the moon, and the sun to help maintain their course.
- Landscape memory – They memorize key landscape features along their migration routes.
- Scent navigation – They may follow characteristic environmental odors to find stopover and breeding sites.
- Brain adaptations – Regions of their brain controlling navigation are enlarged compared to other birds.
Additionally, young bar-tailed godwits learn migration routes and key stopping points from experienced adults. This collective pool of ancestral knowledge helps guide new generations of godwits on these incredible journeys across the globe.
Navigation Strategies Used in Non-Stop 11-Day Flights
| Strategy | Method |
|---|---|
| Magnetic Compass | Sense Earth’s magnetic field to orient direction |
| Star Navigation | Use stars, moon, and sun to navigate |
| Landscape Memory | Memorize key landscape features along routes |
| Scent Navigation | Follow characteristic environmental odors |
| Brain Adaptations | Enlarged brain regions for navigation |
What threats and challenges do bar-tailed godwits face in migration?
Bar-tailed godwits confront a number of threats and challenges during their marathon migrations:
- Habitat loss – Key breeding and stopover habitats along migration routes are being destroyed and degraded.
- Extreme weather – Storms, high winds, and other weather extremes make navigating and flying difficult.
- Lack of food – With stopover sites diminished, refueling on long flights is harder.
- Predators – Predatory raptors, gulls, and falcons hunt migrating bar-tailed godwits.
- Human disturbance – Noise, light pollution, and other human activities disrupt godwits.
- Hunting – Bar-tailed godwits are still hunted for food in some areas.
- Climate change – Changing weather and ocean patterns may disrupt navigational cues and food sources.
Scientists estimate bar-tailed godwit populations have declined by up to 30% in recent decades due to these threats. Conservation efforts to protect wetlands and shorebird habitats are critical for supporting godwits on their migratory journeys.
Threats and Challenges Faced by Bar-Tailed Godwits
| Threat | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat Loss | Destruction of key breeding and stopover sites |
| Extreme Weather | Storms and winds hamper navigation/flight |
| Lack of Food | Diminished refueling stopovers |
| Predators | Attack by raptors, gulls, falcons |
| Human Disturbance | Noise, light pollution, other disruptions |
| Hunting | Still hunted for food in some regions |
| Climate Change | Altered weather patterns, ocean currents |
Conclusion
The incredible non-stop 11-day flight of the bar-tailed godwit is one of the most astounding feats of endurance in the natural world. By tracking birds like E7 via satellite, scientists have gained profound insights into how godwits and other shorebirds are physiologically and mentally adapted to achieve these ultra-long-distance migrations between hemispheres. Still, bar-tailed godwits face growing challenges from human-caused threats that endanger their migratory pathways and survival. Increased conservation efforts focused on protecting wetlands, coastal areas, and stopover habitats will be crucial for ensuring the persistence of these marathon migratory birds into the future.
