A five-month-old bird became a world record holder by flying around 13.560 kilometers without stopping in 11 days. The bar-tailed godwit（斑尾塍鹬）took off from Alaska, the United States, on October 13, 2022 and landed in Tasmania, Australia, on October 24. The old record was set in 2021 by a different bar-tailed godwit. The adult flew about 13,050 kilometers to Australia.

The new record holder carried a 5G GPS chip（芯片）, so its first migration（迁徙）could be followed by scientists. The bird flew mostly over the open Pacific Ocean to reach Tasmania. According to Eric Woehler, an expert at BirdLife Tasmania, the journey was very dangerous. “If a godwit lands on water because of tiredness or bad weather, it will die, because it has no way of getting off the water,” he said.

Adult godwits begin their migration up to six weeks earlier, so it was impossible for the young bird to have followed more experienced adults south. Godwits usually migrate in groups, but the researchers aren’t sure yet if the bird finished the record-breaking journey alone or as a part of a group.

During the trip, the bird flew over a few islands which could give it a chance to eat and drink. But for some reason, it just kept flying. This may have to do with a special talent of bar-tailed godwits. They are able to shrink some parts of their body so that there will be enough space for fat. When they land and start to eat, those parts will grow again. Such ability is really helpful when they make long trips over the sea.

What do different countries do to keep students safe?

Japan

At public primary schools in Japan, earthquake trainings are held once a month. They teach students safety tips for earthquakes. Regular training helps students escape from earthquake-stricken areas without causing any stampedes (踩踏).

Australia

Most students in Australia take first-aid courses at school. They learn basic first-aid knowledge in the class, such as how to call an ambulance (救护车) and what to do when someone is hurt. The government is trying to make all kids take such courses.

US

Most US school buildings have fire escapes. A fire escape has platforms (平台) with stairs and ladders (梯子) at each floor of a building. They are usually made of steel and built outside of the building. People can get to the fire escape through a special fire-exit door or through a window. It is not a good idea to jump out of a window from higher than two floors. You may hurt yourself.

Dolphins (海豚) are one of the cleverest animals in the world. We may hear of many stories about how dolphins save people out of water.

Dolphins often eat fish and some other sea animals. A dolphin with a weight of 200kg to 250kg will eat 10kg to 25kg of fish every day. They like to swim with other dolphins and usually hunt (捕猎) in groups.

Dolphins have very good hearing. They use it to find things under the water. Many scientists also believe dolphins can even talk to each other through a special whistle (哨声). People from different areas don’t speak the same language. Just like people, dolphins’ whistles have many kinds. One day we may understand dolphins’ whistles, and then they will be able to tell us about themselves.

Dolphins live in the sea, but they are not a kind of fish and they don’t lay eggs. They have babies in the same way as cows and cats do, and give their babies milk. A female (雌性) dolphin has a baby every two to three years.

Dolphins are very friendly. Sadly, there are not many kinds of dolphins left. People killed them for many years for food and other things. Now it’s time to stop this and perhaps there will be more of them in the years to come.