The European honey buzzard commonly migrates across long distances. We’re talking 5,000 kilometers and more. We know this because we track them. In one particular case, a specimen supposedly made it all the way from South Africa to Finland in 42 days. That’s 10,000 kilometers in six weeks. Almost 250 kilometers each day—more than most semi-seasoned cyclists can cover, let alone do so 42 times in a row.
Perhaps most impressive, however, is not how far she flew but where. Chart her path on a map, and it’ll be a straight line from Reitz to Helsinki, minus a brief detour along the Nile so she wouldn’t have to fly over open water where she can’t soar. It’s straight-right-left-straight. The most direct course to her destination, given her abilities.
We might never be able to traverse 20 countries at 250 kilometers per day with the sole power of our bodies, but there’s still a thing or two we may learn from a creature you can: Adjust course to accommodate yourself, but insofar as you’re able and can see your final haven, keep flying straight.