Summary:

Some swifts and frigatebirds stay aloft for months. But for a long time, scientists did not know if the birds might be sleeping on the wing. A 2016 study provided answers. Tiny devices attached to the heads of frigatebirds revealed fascinating information: the birds did sleep while aloft, most often one half of the brain at a time. But they also fell into normal, whole-brain sleep and sometimes, even deeper REM sleep. But this deepest sleep came in bursts of just a few seconds — an inflight power-nap.

Full Episode:
Listen Daily:

BirdNote is sponsored locally by Chirp Nature Center and airs live everyday at 4 p.m. on KBHR 93.3 FM. See more BirdNote stories.

(Content courtesy of birdnote.org.)