Biology
The Physiological Costs of Long-Distance Migration in Shorebirds
Quick fact
During a single non-stop migration flight, a shorebird may lose up to 50% of its body mass, much of it from fat stores, and may experience measurable shortening of its telomeres—a cellular sign of aging.
Why this is interesting
Bar-tailed godwits fly non-stop for over 11,000 kilometers, but what does such an epic journey do to their bodies?