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Manx shearwaters drift off course after jet-lag clock mis-sync

By Drooid · Oct 30, 2026 · How we work

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Oxford researchers led by Dr. Patrick Lewin found Manx shearwaters suffer jet-lag clock mis-sync, drifting them off course.
Researchers say internal clocks lag up to an hour after eastward flights, impairing sun-compass navigation.
First-time foragers lacking a map sense may deviate hundreds of kilometres.
Adult birds correct bearings, limiting extra distance to about five kilometres on a 1,000-kilometre journey.

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Oxford researchers led by Dr. Patrick Lewin found Manx shearwaters suffer jet-lag clock mis-sync, drifting them off course.
Researchers say internal clocks lag up to an hour after eastward flights, impairing sun-compass navigation.
First-time foragers lacking a map sense may deviate hundreds of kilometres.
Adult birds correct bearings, limiting extra distance to about five kilometres on a 1,000-kilometre journey.