Godwits
 

Pretty amazing birds we have here, these Godwits. Or "Bar-Tailed Godwits" to be more precise. Seems they have been flying from Alaska to New Zealand in the course of their migration. Non stop, actually, out over the sea. The more industrious of the lot, anyway. That means they fly up to nine continuous, uninterrupted days, without rest. The lower achievers only make it four or five days, and stop for a spell to "refuel" for several weeks at a time. The truly hearty, howver, make it in one leg.

Their metabolic output while in flight can be 8-10 times their base metabolic rate. They keep this up for days on end without food or rest. As a point of reference, Lance's metabolic rate probably approached six times his base metabolic rate while on the toughest climbs of the Tour. And he got to eat and sleep every day...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/animal-science/news/article.cfm?c_id=332&objectid=10462874

Overachievers

They sound like certain Swifts, which fly constantly for years.

It's a long flight. I don't know why they don't go to Sydney on the way. I always do.

I believe they are a cousin to the rare North American GodBotherer

I'm not sure just what you are trying to say here.

But Swifts (family Apodidae) perch on vertical surfaces and nest. So they do not fly "constantly for years". Some Swifts do mate in flight (now that is truely "a flying f*ck"!), but they all spend considerable time each day at rest.

If I have misunderstood your statement, just ignore my correction.

I think I mistakenly said "swift" when perhaps I meant "tern".

FWIW.

edit: From a quick Google, looks like my recollection of "years" was off a bit, too. Guess I am bird brained.

Am I the only one who read that as 'godtwits'?

i though it was the wrong forum for a sec.

That is damn impressive to make that long of a flight but I find another New Zealand native bird a much more impressive at long distance flight: the Royal Albatross, they spend close to 90% of their life out at sea.

How about high flying birds?

I just looked this up and it appears the Bar-headed Goose wins, based upon "routine" altitudes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar-headed_Goose

I did find a report of a jet airplane hitting a vulture at ~37,000 feet. Not sure how they determined it was a vulture? Vulture parts on the plane?

Wow, there is very little oxygen at those altitudes. One would assume they would still have to be taking in a fair quantity to be performing at that kind of work rate, regardless of stored calories to burn.

Imagine the implications if we can isolate what it is that allows these two remarkable species of birds to accomplish these feats...

So I'm starting to think if we see a significant reduction in either species - Godwits or geese - and Lance's neck is noticeably longer, and his gait becomes somewhat "bird-like" during his comeback tour next year, I'm going to be more than a little suspicious...

the metabolic scope is helped in part b/c all bird have floe-thru lungs - not the crummy tidal lung we mammals are stuck with (they mix good and bad - high co2, low o2 - air)

male birds also exemplify a light wt. philosophy - they resorb the testicles before migration

Well then, that explains it. I'm hopelessly grounded...