The black-tailed godwit, a migratory bird, breaks non-stop distance records with an epic flight across the Pacific.
It is no coincidence that it is said to have the aerodynamic structure of a "jet fighter" and now this bird has been tracked after flying more than 12 km from Alaska to New Zealand, setting a new world record for non-avian flight. stop. And the godwit, which departed on 16 September and arrived in a bay near Auckland 11 days later, flying speeds of around 88 km per hour.
The "warden" is a male specimen, known by the acronym 4BBRW (referring to the blue, blue, red and white rings mounted on his paws), and is one of the four left together from the Alaskan mudflats - where they were fed on clams and worms for two months - studied by the Global Flyway Network, a conservation group that studies long-distance migratory coastal birds.
Hunting: the extra days to kill migratory birds in Lombardy suspended from the Tar
Le real pitfalls (Limosa limosa) are exceptional birds, with some incredibly long migration routes. They are wading birds that spend their summers in the arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere (where they reproduce), then fly south for the winter, in some cases as far as Australia and New Zealand. It goes without saying, then, that those specimens seeking to move from Alaska to New Zealand must make an epic flight over the Pacific Ocean.
Barwith established a new record of non stop flight +12000 km!
How awsome is that?!
See link to article with Jesse Conklin#biodiversity #conservation#migration #ISTC20 #IWSGconf#waders #shorebirds@GlobalFlyway @WaderStudy @eco_flyway @NIOZwdrchttps://t.co/fPqDDw741M pic.twitter.com/9FAnLCCGFU
– José A. Alves (@_JoseAAlves_) October 13, 2020
And for 4BBRW, that led to a record-breaking non-stop flight, in which the bird flew 12.854km, equipped as it was with a 5g satellite tag, which allowed for GPS tracking.
The previous non-stop flight record belongs to a bar-tailed godwit, which flew 2007 km during a similar trip in 11.680.
Scientists aren't entirely sure how these birds are capable of making very long journeys without eating or sleeping, but they do have some ideas, as described in a 2011 University of Lund study:
One explanation is that they consume unusually little energy compared to other bird species. Anders Hedenström [an ecologist at the University of Lund] has calculated that the bar-tailed godwit consumes 0,41% of its body weight every hour during its long flight and this figure is extremely low compared to other migratory birds.
However, other factors also play a role. It is important to have the right balance between body weight and size in order to be able to carry enough energy for the entire flight. Energy mainly comprises body fat and to some extent protein as well. It is also important to have an aerodynamic body shape so as to minimize air resistance. Another success factor is the speed of flight. Black-tailed godwit is a fast flyer, which means it can cover long distances in a reasonable amount of time.
Unfortunately, black-tailed godwits are listed by the IUCN as Near Threatened species, as their population is declining.
Fonti: The Guardian / Science Daily
Read also:
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