The Story of E3
For as long as people can remember, bar-tailed godwits (kuaka) have come to New Zealand and Australia each summer in big flocks.
Then in late March, they all leave. We knew their final destination was Alaska, but we knew nothing about their incredible journey.
In 2007, scientists finally had the technology to find out. They created a bunch of feather-light solar-powered backpacks for the birds to wear so they could plot their journey.
Sixteen birds were fitted with these backpacks that gave scientists information about their exact location.
One of the birds was called E3.
Before scientists put on his backpack, scientists watched as he changed into a marathon flying machine.
He grew fat. His heart grew bigger. His flight muscles grew stronger. And his organs shrunk, so that he wasn’t taking any unnecessary baggage. He even grew new feathers especially for the trip.
In March, the birds set off on their journey clocking an average speed of 56 kilometres an hour – faster than most cars drive in the city. E3 was on his way.
The scientists tracked their journey towards their final destination Alaska.
Then something strange happened. E3 took a stop off in Papua New Guinea. The rest of the birds flew on. Why did he stop?
Did a tasty crab in the sand catch his eye? Did he have an old girlfriend there? No.
Scientists think that E3 was probably feeling tired because his backpack was weighing him down. He started heading back to Australia, to the bright lights of Queensland. Oh no!
Then the scientists lost all communication with him. They cried ‘E3 call home’. Everyone feared the worst. What had happened to E3?
Then, six months later, a scientist spotted a godwit wearing a black tag on the estuary. It was E3. He’d decided to stay in Australia for the winter. Like many of the backpack-wearing birds he had a troublesome journey.
Most of the birds managed to make the journey – and now we know exactly where these birds fly and make their stop-offs.
This means that we can ensure that the wetlands on their journey are clean and are filled with food for these hungry travellers!
