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Location: Higgs Field
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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
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Jeff '72 911T 3.0 MFI '93 Ducati 900 Super Sport "God invented whiskey so the Irish wouldn't rule the world" |
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10-23-2008, 12:36 PM
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Targa, Panamera Turbo
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Houston TX
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Overachievers
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10-23-2008, 12:40 PM
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Monkey with a mouse
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: SoCal
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They sound like certain Swifts, which fly constantly for years.
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10-23-2008, 12:41 PM
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Quote:
It's a long flight. I don't know why they don't go to Sydney on the way. I always do. |
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10-23-2008, 12:53 PM
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I believe they are a cousin to the rare North American GodBotherer
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Rick 1984 911 coupe |
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10-23-2008, 12:54 PM
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Quote:
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.
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Who Dares, Wins! |
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10-23-2008, 01:02 PM
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Monkey with a mouse
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: SoCal
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Quote:
FWIW. edit: From a quick Google, looks like my recollection of "years" was off a bit, too. Guess I am bird brained. |
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10-23-2008, 01:28 PM
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Too big to fail
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Am I the only one who read that as 'godtwits'?
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"You go to the track with the Porsche you have, not the Porsche you wish you had." '03 E46 M3 '57 356A Various VWs |
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10-23-2008, 01:58 PM
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Location: Marysville Wa.
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i though it was the wrong forum for a sec.
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10-23-2008, 02:02 PM
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At the track = great day
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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.
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Lane 2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI Looking for another sports car.. |
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10-23-2008, 05:51 PM
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Monkey with a mouse
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: SoCal
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How about high flying birds?
I just looked this up and it appears the Bar-headed Goose wins, based upon "routine" altitudes. Quote:
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? |
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10-23-2008, 06:06 PM
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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...
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Jeff '72 911T 3.0 MFI '93 Ducati 900 Super Sport "God invented whiskey so the Irish wouldn't rule the world" |
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10-23-2008, 06:44 PM
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RETIRED
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1983/3.6, backdate to long hood 2012 ML350 3.0 Turbo Diesel |
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10-23-2008, 07:10 PM
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AutoBahned
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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 |
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10-23-2008, 08:33 PM
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Registered
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Location: Higgs Field
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Quote:
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Jeff '72 911T 3.0 MFI '93 Ducati 900 Super Sport "God invented whiskey so the Irish wouldn't rule the world" |
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10-24-2008, 05:40 AM
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The track car
The daily driver
Da cab
