Endless Summer

Come spring, West Coast National Park is a safe haven for many migratory birds that chase the sun.

- Dale Wright

Let’s put ourselves into the shoes, or rather the feathers, of one of our winged friends for a minute. As a tiny shorebird or wader, you spend your long summer days in the northern hemisphere, foraging around a large intertidal mudflat or tundra marsh, feeding your newly hatched chick and yourself on the riches of the summer season. Slowly the days begin to shorten and you frantically fatten up both yourself and your young, in preparation for a long trip.

When the timing feels right, you and many others of your species take to the wing and cross mountains and oceans, flying around deserts and over great rainforests, as you chase the sun. This journey, however, is fraught with dangers such as the illegal hunters and netters out to trap small birds, plus the loss of key areas of habitat that help you complete the arduous journey. Some species increase their body mass by up to 35 per cent before embarking on this journey. Try doing that before your next trail run!