Nature’s greatest flight: Migratory bird flies 13,560 km non-stop from Alaska to Australia without landing once for 11 days

High above the vast Pacific Ocean, far from any land, a small migratory bird performs one of the most extraordinary endurance feats known in the natural world. The Bar-tailed godwit, a shorebird weighing only a few hundred grams, has stunned scientists by completing a non-stop flight of around 13,560 kilometres across the ocean. The journey begins in Alaska and ends thousands of kilometres away in Australia, with the bird remaining in the air for roughly 11 consecutive days without landing once.

Scientists tracked the remarkable migration using satellite transmitters attached to the birds, confirming that the godwit crossed the Pacific Ocean without stopping to eat, drink or rest on land. The research has been led by migration scientists including Phil Battley and Jesse Conklin, whose teams have spent years tagging and monitoring these birds to understand their extreme journeys. The record-breaking flight, which researchers documented during the September 2020 migration season, has drawn global attention to the astonishing endurance and navigational abilities of migratory birds.

The migratory bird behind the record-breaking journey from Alaska to Australia

The bar-tailed godwit is a long-distance migratory shorebird known for its impressive seasonal journeys. The species breeds in the Arctic regions of Alaska during the northern summer and migrates southward when temperatures drop.
While many birds migrate in stages, stopping along the way to rest and feed, bar-tailed godwits are capable of performing extremely long non-stop flights over open ocean. The Alaska-to-Australia migration is one of the longest such journeys recorded.

Satellite tracking has allowed scientists to monitor the birds’ exact routes and confirm the enormous distances they travel during migration. In some cases, individual birds have been identified through satellite tags and colour bands, allowing researchers to follow the same bird across multiple years of migration.

Preparing for an extreme journey

Before beginning their migration, bar-tailed godwits undergo dramatic physical changes to prepare for the long flight.
The birds significantly increase their body weight by storing fat, which serves as the primary fuel during the journey. Fat is a highly efficient energy source, allowing the birds to sustain long-distance flight.

At the same time, scientists have observed that parts of the digestive system shrink in size before departure. Because the birds will not eat during the flight, reducing these organs saves energy and space while allowing more fat reserves to be stored.

These physiological changes effectively turn the birds into highly efficient long-distance flying machines. Some birds almost double their body weight before departure in preparation for the journey.

Navigating across an entire ocean

Crossing the Pacific Ocean presents enormous navigational challenges. Unlike migrations over continents, the birds cannot rely on landmarks or stopovers for guidance.

Researchers believe bar-tailed godwits use a combination of natural navigation tools, including the Earth’s magnetic field, the position of the sun and stars, and atmospheric conditions.

Some studies suggest birds may also possess a biological mechanism that allows them to detect magnetic fields, helping them maintain their course across vast distances of open ocean.

This sophisticated navigation system enables the birds to leave Alaska and arrive with remarkable accuracy at their destination in Australia. Researchers have noted that the birds often time their departure carefully to take advantage of favourable wind systems across the Pacific.

One of nature’s most extreme endurance feats

For a bird weighing only a few hundred grams, flying continuously for 11 days represents an extraordinary level of endurance.
During the journey, the birds burn through large portions of their stored fat, sometimes losing nearly half their body weight by the time they reach their destination.

Despite these extreme conditions, the birds arrive at their wintering grounds and begin feeding to rebuild their energy reserves.

Scientists say the bar-tailed godwit’s migration represents one of the most impressive endurance achievements in the animal kingdom.

Why scientists study these migrations

Researchers study long-distance migrations like this to better understand how animals adapt to extreme environments and how they navigate across the planet.

Satellite tracking technology has made it possible to map migration routes with unprecedented accuracy. The recent record flights were documented using lightweight satellite transmitters attached to the birds before migration, allowing scientists to follow their movements in real time.

Understanding these migrations is also important for conservation. Many migratory birds rely on wetlands and coastal habitats that are increasingly threatened by development and climate change.

Protecting these habitats is critical to ensuring that remarkable travellers like the bar-tailed godwit can continue their epic journeys across the globe.