Page 230 - The Miracle of Migration in Animals

THE MIRACLE OF MIGRATION IN ANIMALS

The Golden Plover: A Creature to
Challenge Evolutionary Theory

To spend the winter, plovers migrate from Alaska to Hawaii.
They must fly non-stop over the ocean, because there are no islands
on their route and they are not a species that can swim. During their
4,000-kilometer (2,400 mile) journey, which takes 88 hours, their
wings beat an incredible 250,000 times. At the start of their journey,
they weigh 200 grams (7 ounces), of which 70 grams (2 ounces) con-
sist of fat to be burned as fuel. These birds consume 0.6% of their
body weight every hour. By this calculation, in 72 hours—81% of the
necessary flying time—they need to consume 70 grams (2 ounces) of
their fat, virtually all their fuel. This should make the birds fall into
the ocean some 800 kilometers (500 miles) be-
fore their destination—but that
never happens.

228