Alaska Bird Makes Longest Nonstop Flight Ever Measured

National Geographic News ^ | 9-14-2007 | Dave Hansford

[blam]

How Fast and High Do Birds Fly?

Geese fly at 29,000 feet.

[blam]

[nuconvert]

well, I’m exhausted just reading about it

[spanalot]

Sleeping half a brain at a time?

[mvpel]

But they told us that Global Warming would lead to mass extinctions!

[FreeReign]

E7 found her way by analyzing polarized light to get a fix on the sun by day, even in heavy clouds,...

No need to stop and ask directions when you can analyze polarized light.

[C210N]

According to satellite data, E7 flew at an average speed of 34.8 miles an hour (56 kilometers an hour), seeking favorable winds at elevations between 1.85 miles (3 kilometers) and 2.5 miles (4 kilometers).

Sure. I'd bet this bird actually did a "Rosie Ruiz", and you'd find the real data: on day 1 and day 9 1.85 miles high and 34.8 mph, but days 2 thru 8 were at a rock steady 8 knots at an altitude of 55 feet.

[Dysart]

Amazing tale (considered a pun there but resisted I’ll have you know). I suppose this one now is the record holder for long distance flight, replacing the Arctic Tern.

[MarineBrat]

Truly an impressive feat! I wonder how this compares to the Arctic Tern?

[magellan]

"Geese fly at 29,000 feet."

Not over my house.

[shield]

Pretty amazing...birds are...

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

I think if you wandered into a pub and called someone a “bar-tailed godwit” they’d likely punch your lights out.

[Dysart]

Arctic Tern can travel between 22,000-30,000 miles round-trip, so 11,000-15,000 miles one way. But this isn't nonstop.

[RightWhale]

A flight of Canada geese passed over my house this week at 29 feet. They were not in stealth mode. What a racket!

[lexington minuteman 1775]

Wow, amazing. I get winded going out to get the mail!LOL.

[Defiant]

So, it did it in one fell swoop.

[Dysart]

I take it they were southbound?

[pianomikey]

But as with every single amazing animal in the world, they’re threated with extinction unless we don’t do something to curb capitalism NOW!

[TexasRepublic]

I think if you wandered into a pub and called someone a “bar-tailed godwit” they’d likely punch your lights out.

Or a "duck-tailed nitwit".

[RightWhale]

No, although they probably have headed out by now. Snow tomorrow and they want to be gone by then. I believe they head east and then turn south after they reach Canada.