This little bird with its 20-inch wingspan weighs about as much as a stick of butter, but it has the stamina of an Olympian. Each fall, red knots are known to fly more than 9,000 miles from the Arctic to South America–and in the spring, they do the journey in reverse, for a roundtrip of more than 20,000 miles. The most famous red knot, known as ‘Moonbird,’ is so named because the total of its known migrations have exceeded the distance to the moon. Moonbird was first banded in Rio Grande, Argentina, in 1995 and has been sighted many times in the years after–amazing scientists and birders alike.
A red knot on the Shetland Islands, Scotland
Today in History
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Remembering Krakatoa
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Earth seen from the International Space Station
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’Chess on ice’
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Death Valley National Park, California
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A wonder in winter
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Let’s go mothing
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Racing toward history
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Big dreams require a big sleigh
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Happy Easter!
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One giant leap for penguins
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Celebrating World Wildlife Day
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A festival of lights in India
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The Old City of Bern
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Smoking nights in Austria
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Nha Phu Bay, Nha Trang, Vietnam
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Flock together for Cousins Day
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Penguin Awareness Day
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It s Computer Science Education Week
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Apple Tree Day
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All Rhodes lead to the beach
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Balloons and camels are two ways to catch a ride here
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Kinder Scout, Peak District National Park, England
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Life in the slow lane
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Finding a balance between wetlands and water treatment
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How Quảng Ngãi got its grove back
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Spectacular views below!
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Memorial Day
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Sailing across the ice
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Boating on the Bojo
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South Stack Lighthouse, Holy Island, Wales