Five-Month-Old Bird Flies 8,425 Miles Nonstop Across the Pacific

A juvenile bar-tailed godwit flew 13,560 km from Alaska to Tasmania in 11 days and one hour, setting a remarkable nonstop migration record

Five-Month-Old Bird Flies 8,425 Miles Across the Pacific Without Landing

By News National Editorial Team

A five-month-old migratory bird has demonstrated extraordinary endurance by flying approximately 13,560 kilometres (8,425 miles) from Alaska to Tasmania without landing, stopping to feed or taking a break. The journey, completed in October 2022, earned a juvenile bar-tailed godwit recognition from Guinness World Records for the longest recorded nonstop bird migration.

The bird, identified by its satellite tag number 234684, departed Alaska on October 13, 2022, and reached Ansons Bay in northeastern Tasmania, Australia, 11 days and one hour later. Researchers tracked its progress using a small satellite transmitter attached to its back. The tracking data indicated that it remained airborne throughout the remarkable ocean crossing.

The achievement was especially notable because the bird completed the journey during its first southward migration, while still a juvenile. Scientists studying migratory shorebirds have used satellite tracking to understand how young birds travel vast distances and which environmental threats they may encounter along their routes.

An Extraordinary Journey Across the Pacific

Bar-tailed godwits are known for their long-distance migrations between breeding grounds in Alaska and non-breeding areas in the Southern Hemisphere. Their journeys can involve extended flights across open ocean, where suitable places to land and find food are unavailable.

The 2022 flight covered roughly 13,560 kilometres, making it one of the most remarkable nonstop journeys recorded in bird migration research. The bird travelled across the Pacific before reaching Tasmania, rather than stopping at intermediate locations.

The US Geological Survey reported the achievement in November 2022, describing the juvenile godwit’s 11-day journey as a record-setting nonstop migration. Guinness World Records subsequently documented the distance and duration.

How Does a Bird Fly for 11 Days Without Eating?

The secret lies partly in preparation before departure. Bar-tailed godwits feed intensively before migration, building substantial fat reserves that provide energy during long periods in flight.

Fat is particularly useful because it stores considerable energy relative to its weight. A bird carrying sufficient reserves can sustain its muscles through an extended journey when it cannot stop to feed.

Researchers have also documented physiological changes that help migratory birds prepare for long flights. Certain internal organs, including parts of the digestive system, can shrink before migration, reducing the amount of weight the bird must carry. Flight muscles and other systems supporting sustained movement also play essential roles.

During such a journey, the bird must manage energy use, hydration and the demands of continuous flight. Strong winds can influence its progress, while storms and other adverse conditions can make an ocean crossing more dangerous.

Why Scientists Track Young Migratory Birds

The flight was more than a record-breaking achievement. It offered scientists valuable information about the first migrations of juvenile bar-tailed godwits.

Researchers from the US Geological Survey and collaborating institutions have used lightweight satellite transmitters to study the movements of young birds from Alaska. Tracking their journeys helps scientists understand migration routes, identify important habitats and investigate the environmental risks birds face during different stages of their lives.

Young birds face particular challenges because they must undertake demanding migrations without the experience accumulated by older individuals. Following their movements can help researchers investigate how they navigate and whether their migration routes expose them to different threats.

The information is also relevant to conservation. Wetland loss, habitat degradation, changing environmental conditions and other pressures can affect migratory shorebirds at breeding, stopover and wintering sites.

A Remarkable Example of Natural Endurance

The journey of bird 234684 illustrates the extraordinary capabilities of migratory wildlife. A bird only months old crossed thousands of kilometres of open ocean, relying on its biological adaptations and stored energy to complete a nonstop flight.

Although the record flight took place in 2022, it remains an important example of the distances some birds can travel and the scientific value of satellite tracking. The achievement also highlights why protecting habitats along migratory routes is essential for the survival of long-distance travellers.

For researchers, every tracked journey can reveal more about how birds move across the planet—and how conservation efforts can help ensure that future generations can continue these remarkable migrations.

Sources

• Guinness World Records — Longest non-stop migration by a bird

  

  Guinness World Records

• U.S. Geological Survey — Juvenile bar-tailed godwit sets world record

  

  U.S. Geological Survey

• Guinness World Records: The record-breaking bird that flew from Alaska to Australia

  

  Guinness World Records