A bird recently broke the world record for the longest continuous bird flight on its first long-haul journey across the Pacific after the youngster got mixed up and landed in the wrong place. The bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica) flew 8,435 miles from Alaska to Tasmania. The youngster, around five months old, took off on 13 October 2022 and touched down on 25 October 2022 after flapping its wings non-stop for 11 days and one hour, or 265 continuous hours.
Most bar-tailed godwits finish their migrations in New Zealand or Australia. But satellite data reveals the youngster made a wrong turn late in the route on its approach to New Zealand; it flew between the two countries and ended up on the wrong side of Australia. Experts suspect this navigational mishap was caused, in part, because the bird had no idea where it was headed. Juvenile bar-tailed godwits make their maiden migration up to six weeks after their parents have already flown south for the winter, unusual for birds. The delayed departure enables youngsters to spend more time fattening up before they head out on their energysapping journey. Most juveniles manage to eventually meet up with the adults despite having never travelled to their final destination before.