65,000 km seabird odyssey is world's longest migration: researchers

One of the most abundant sea birds on Earth also has the longest animal migration route ever recorded, researchers have discovered.

According to researchers from the University of California, the sooty shearwater travels about 65,000 kilometres during its northbound migration.

That's approximately one and a half trips around the Earth.

The U.S. researchers - along with institutions from France and New Zealand - studied the migration cycle of the sea birds using electronic tracking technology.

The electronically-tagged birds traced a giant figure eight over the Pacific Basin - starting from Antarctic waters to coastal currents off California, Alaska, and Japan.

According to the study, the birds - which have a worldwide population of 20 million - visited feeding areas at or near the beginning of peak productivity of food.

The birds rapidly crossed the equator twice, stopping shortly to feed along the way.

The short pit stops are to take advantage of high food productivity in the Northern locations the birds visit, the scientists claim.

The scientists will record the migration once more to see if individual birds prefer one location or another for breeding.

The researchers' study will be published in next week's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Photography: Monterey Pelagic Seabird Cruises

Source: Discovery Channel Reports, August 9 edition