Cursed with being a seabird that cannot float, a new study has identified the unusual coping tactic used by tropical frigate birds during cross-ocean journeys: They simply refuse to stop flying. Incredibly, though, the frigate bird is not even close to the world record for continuous flight. With this new research, science now knows the frigate is roughly on par with the human record for continuous flight. The French research agency called the birds “astute strategists” capable of crossing the Indian Ocean simply by riding the trade winds. “The frigate is a bird built for gliding,” said a video accompanying the new research, which is published in this month’s edition of the journal Science.

Source: National Post July 04, 2016 00:22 UTC