Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica): The bar-tailed godwit performs one of the most extreme non-stop flights in the animal kingdom. The subspecies L. l. baueri flies over 7,000 miles from Alaska to New Zealand in 8–9 days without resting or eating. It prepares by doubling its body weight in fat. During flight, it shuts down non-essential organs and uses efficient aerodynamics. It relies on innate navigation and favorable wind patterns. In New Zealand, it winters in estuaries before returning via East Asia. Habitat loss in stopover sites threatens its survival. This marathon flight showcases avian physiological limits and the importance of preserving global wetland networks for migratory birds.
Add Comment + Vote ( 1 )...
There are currently no comments !