Seabirds get jet lag, too — and it can throw them a bit off course

Scientists used GPS tracking to study seabirds during fast east-west flights and discovered the birds experience jet lag similar to humans. When birds fly quickly across time zones, their internal body clock becomes misaligned with the actual position of the sun. This mismatch affects the birds' ability to navigate accurately, causing them to fly off course. The research shows that jet lag is not unique to humans and can affect how animals orient themselves during travel.