Page 61 - The Miracle of Migration in Animals

In a single flight,
most migrating
shorebirds cannot
cover the great dis-
tance between their
breeding grounds and the
regions where they spend
the winter. Smaller species,
which store less fat than the
largest ones need to stop to
gather more food. Small birds
can fly up to 2,000 kilometers
(1,250 miles) with the spare
fuel. Since there are few suit-
able islands where they can
stop off, they trace a zigzag
route along the South Asian
coast. But they know
where they can stop and
travel in the right direc-
tion. On the other hand,
larger shore birds can
carry enough fat for a
5,000-kilometer (3,100-
mile) journey, and so
can follow a more direct
course.

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