World's Longest Flight: Swift Birds Found to Travel 10 Months Straight!

Covering thousands of miles and staying most of the time flying, the routine of birds was initially hypothesized by Ron Lockley, a British researcher in the 70s. It was still a question whether it can really stay that long, but a recent study claimed that it could really happen, and the common swiftlets are now holding the record for the longest natural sustained flight.

The Lund University researchers have developed a technology incorporating a microdata log to track down birds' flight patterns and behavior. It is a small piece of machine that weighs even less than one gram, with light sensors that captures and sends information to the research team on the birds’ location, flight speed, and acceleration. The device, which is similar to a "backpack," was attached to 13 birds. Based on the data they gathered from the device which included a span of two years, they have found out that birds spend almost 10 months flying but take a few short breaks at night. There were also birds that never landed at all within the 10-month period.

“This discovery significantly pushes the boundaries for what we know about animal physiology. A 10-month flight phase is the longest we know of any bird species -- it’s a record,” said Professor Anders Hedenström of the Lund University's Department of Biology in the university's press release.

Professor Hedenström also mentioned that this discovery would help to further understand the physiology of animals, specifically birds. With their findings on traveling longer miles continuously, they are even more eager to know how these birds do it. The issue on keeping constant energy, not to mention the food requirements and sleep, has become one of the jigsaw puzzles yet to be resolved

The previous holder of the longest flight was the relative of common swift, the alpine swift. The latter flew around six months, which included molting and other developmental changes of the avians.