New research published in the journal Science reveals that Manx shearwaters, a seabird species

New research published in the journal Science reveals that Manx shearwaters, a seabird species common in the British Isles, experience disorientation during long transatlantic flights due to their internal clocks falling out of sync with the sun’s position, according to a study led by Patrick Lewin, a behavioral ecologist at the University of Oxford. The birds, which mate for life and take turns incubating a single egg, travel hundreds of miles across the North Atlantic to forage for fish and squid before returning to their nests. GPS tracking data showed that their movement was slightly off, with a maximum deviation of seven degrees, equivalent to about three miles over a 600-mile journey.

The study highlights how Manx shearwaters use the sun to determine direction, requiring them to know the time of day to orient themselves. Lewin noted that when their internal clocks were out of sync, the birds flew the wrong way. Alice Boyle, a biologist at Western University in Ontario not involved in the study, called the research "so cool," emphasizing its value in observing decision-making in wild birds traveling to remote areas.

Internal Clock Disruption

Manx shearwaters, described as closely related to albatrosses, face challenges in finding their way when their internal clocks mismatch the sun's position. During return journeys, the birds exhibited minor course deviations, suggesting a form of jet lag analogous to humans. Lewin explained that the birds’ reliance on solar positioning for direction makes them vulnerable to temporal disorientation during long flights.

Implications for Avian Navigation

The study underscores the complexity of avian navigation, with GPS tracking providing rare insights into how wild birds adapt to environmental cues. Boyle highlighted the significance of observing these behaviors in real-world conditions, noting that such data is uncommon for species traveling to remote locations. The research adds to understanding how animals, beyond humans, manage time zone transitions.

“It’s using these wild birds that travel to completely remote places and we’re able to learn so much about how they do that,” Boyle said.