Imagine being outside on a chilly spring night and flapping your arms for hours… and hours… and hours. That’s what many millions of migrating birds will be doing night after night during spring migration.
It’s a remarkable biological feat, and scientists have been trying to understand how birds’ bodies handle the demands of the trip.
One study found that in the first few hours of flight, birds used protein stores rather than fat as fuel. One striking example was a Blackpoll Warbler which voluntarily flew 28 nonstop hours in their wind tunnel, only stopping when it had burned enough protein to alter the structure of its flight muscles. Other researchers found that individuals of some species pushed on and didn’t extend their refueling stopovers, even though they had lost more lean body mass than their peers.
Changes in gene expression networks may be responsible for the physiological feats of migrating birds, including their ability to stay alert with very little sleep. A better understanding of how migrating birds survive and thrive may offer insights to improve human health.