16,000-km bird journey reveals stunning resilience engineering

About the size of a pigeon, the female Hudsonian godwit, known to researchers by the code A34, prepares each year for a journey that seems nearly impossible: flying from Chiloé Island in Patagonia, Chile, to breeding grounds in Alaska along a route spanning nearly 16,000 kilometers.

This species has been monitored since 2009 using small tracking devices attached to the birds’ legs. The data reveal that godwits can fly continuously day and night, covering vast distances across the Americas with only a few stopover sites.

Before departure, the birds consume large quantities of mollusks and worms to build up substantial fat reserves. This fat serves not only as fuel but also, when metabolized, produces what is known as “metabolic water,” helping the birds survive for days without drinking. Additionally, their bodies redistribute resources, prioritizing muscles and organs essential for long-distance flight.

However, this extraordinary capability does not protect them from wetland loss and climate disruption. Data cited by The New Yorker indicate that populations of about half of all migratory shorebird species have declined by more than 50% since 1980.

Studies show that godwit populations do not respond to climate change in a uniform manner. Some have altered their arrival timing, while others struggle to synchronize breeding with food abundance. Consequently, tracking these birds does more than explain their migratory journey; it also helps scientists identify critical stopover sites that need protection across both continents.