Seabirds Crossing Oceans Suffer from Jet Lag That Skews Their Sun Compasses

A new scientific study reveals that Manx shearwater seabirds flying across the North Atlantic experience jet lag during their long excursions, which directly disrupts their solar navigation.

The disruptive phenomenon of jet lag is no longer exclusive to humans. Groundbreaking research published in Science, led by University of Oxford behavioral and sensory ecologist Patrick Lewin, demonstrates that Manx shearwater seabirds suffer from self-inflicted jet lag during their massive oceanic flights.

Pigeon-sized Manx shearwaters nest in burrows around coastal islands in the UK and Ireland, primarily Wales, before heading out to feed anywhere from dozens to over 1,000 kilometers into the Atlantic. Because these birds navigate using the Sun, the internal clock disruption of jet lag leaves a measurable mark, ultimately skewing their compass and altering their migratory paths.