Bar-tailed Godwit: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Shorebirds · day 4 of 7

Five facts

1. Godwits flying from Alaska to New Zealand make the longest non-stop flight known for any bird, crossing the Pacific without a single meal.
2. In 2022, a young godwit tagged B6 flew non-stop from Alaska to Tasmania: at least 13,560 km in just over 11 days.
3. Before the big trip, godwits pile on more fat than any other migrating bird studied, and shrink their gut to carry it.
4. Godwits often leave New Zealand early when the winds are good. They seem able to forecast the weather along their whole route.
5. Parents take turns on the eggs for 20 to 21 days: dad sits by day, mum sits at night.

The quiz

1. What record do godwits that fly from Alaska to New Zealand hold?

• Highest flight of any bird
• Fastest dive of any bird
• Longest non-stop flight known for any bird (correct)
• Deepest dive of any bird

Their Pacific crossing is the record non-stop flight for a bird.

2. Where did the young godwit B6 fly to, non-stop from Alaska?

• Tasmania (correct)
• Iceland
• Mexico
• Japan

B6 flew non-stop from Alaska to Tasmania in 2022.

3. What do godwits shrink to carry their huge fat load?

• Their wings
• Their digestive organs (correct)
• Their legs
• Their bill

They reduce the size of their digestive organs.

4. When do godwits often leave New Zealand early?

• When it starts to snow
• When the moon is full
• When their chicks hatch
• When the winds are favourable (correct)

They leave early with good winds and seem to predict the weather.

5. Who sits on the godwit eggs at night?

• The father
• Nobody
• The mother (correct)
• An older chick

The male incubates by day and the female at night.

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