Little Bird Rides A Hurricane To Migrate In Record Time

A young whimbrel, tagged and tracked by scientists at the Manomet Conservation Sciences, departed Cape Cod in late summer, ready for its first migratory flight southward.

Little did this juvenile bird know that Hurricanes Imelda and Humberto were both swirling off the U.S. East Coast. For many migratory birds, these storms could be a death sentence.

But this juvenile whimbrel managed to lock into the strong tailwinds on the west side of the storm and rocketed at nearly 80 mph for almost 24 hours straight.

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“It looked like a really big obstacle for this bird, and so we were nervous to see how the bird would handle it, but we're also really impressed because the bird was able to capitalize on the tail winds," said Alan Kneidel, Senior Conservation Biologist at Manomet Conservation Sciences.

Tracking Whimbrels For Conservation

Scientists have been tracking whimbrels for the last few decades by strapping solar backpacks on the birds via a leg loop harness that rests on the small of the bird’s back. The data is then transmitted to a satellite network, and the scientists can track the birds in real time.

(MORE: Why Bird Populations Are Drastically Declining)

These large, long-legged shorebirds breed in the Arctic and subarctic before making dramatic journeys thousands of miles south to the Caribbean and South America. For the Cape Cod group that Kneidel’s team tracks, that trip can be more than 4,000 miles. It’s a nonstop flight that takes three to four days.

“They can't soar like a hawk or a pelican, that can just lock in its wings and soar for hours, and they can't float on the water like a duck,” explained Kneidel. Adding, “So these birds are flapping constantly, and when they're out over the ocean, they don't really have the option to stop.”

That’s why the timing of their migration is so critical, and why hurricane season adds an extra layer of risk. While some storms offer powerful tailwinds that can help birds travel faster, others prove deadly.

Just last year, one tagged whimbrel became trapped in the vortex of Hurricane Milton over the open Atlantic. It was tracked flying round and round the hurricane, unable to escape the powerful winds. It didn’t survive.

(MORE: One Of The Rarest Birds In The World Hatches 8 Chicks)

“It's a double-edged sword when they come across these tropical storms in the Atlantic. If they navigate it correctly, they can leverage it to their advantage,” said Kneidel. “But then there's the risk of thinking you have a really nice tailwind and smooth sailing, and then all of a sudden, you've hit a problem that you couldn't foresee.”

This particular whimbrel not only survived but thrived, landing safely in Venezuela after a journey that took less than four days.

Climate Change Putting Stress On Whimbrels

But the research goes beyond witnessing astonishing migratory paces and watching birds navigate hurricanes in real time. Whimbrel numbers have been in large decline, especially during their migratory months. That’s why they are being studied, in hopes of helping improve their population numbers.

“I think it's a combination of increased stressors, certainly one of them is likely an increase in the frequency and intensity of tropical systems," explained Kneidel. “And while they are built to handle these and are expert flyers, they're still susceptible to the storms as we've documented.”

Another worry is that these juvenile birds will take off on their migratory journey even if they aren’t adequately fueled up so to speak. They haven’t rested long enough or eaten the necessary amount to sustain them, yet will still take off, and many don’t have the energy and stamina to make the trip.

Conserving this special species means protecting the habitats they depend on: from the Arctic tundra where they breed to the coastal wetlands that refuel them on their long journey south. Each migration tells scientists more about the challenges these birds face in a changing climate, and what it will take to ensure their incredible flights continue for generations to come.

Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.