Awesome Animal Fact - Tireless Albatross

Did you know the grey-headed albatross can circle the globe in only 46 days? British scientists attached sensors to 47 grey-headed albatrosses, then they were able to recapture 22 of the birds when they returned to their breeding area 18 months later. The scientists examined the data, which told the detailed story of the birds' travels. Some of the birds stayed in the area, but 12 of them headed east and circled the entire globe. Amazingly, three of them circled the globe twice!

The fastest circumnavigation was 46 days. That's 14,000 miles in only 46 days! The typical daily flight for the birds was 600 miles.

This information could be important in helping governments around the world develop conservation strategies for albatrosses. After all, 19 of the 21 species are threatened with extinction.

Photo Credits:
- Gray-headed albatross - DepositPhotos