The clever way Magellanic penguins ride—and adjust to—ocean currents
Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) looking to save some energy on their 1,200-mile-long journeys may have tapped into using one of the ocean’s most dynamic forces for help. The sea birds can sense shifts in currents and use it to maximize their efficiency by alternating their travel routes. The findings are detailed in a study published July 17 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology. “Magellanic penguins finding their way back to their nests from the open ocean subtly adjust their headings to exploit tidal currents, following paths that reduce energy costs while maintaining remarkable accuracy,” the study’s authors wrote in a statement. “Rather than swimming directly home, they drift laterally with the tides, balancing travel efficiency with opportunistic foraging along the way.” Many animals have ways of using physics to their advantage while traveling. The famous “flying-V” formation in birds is believed to conserve energy and take advantage of a principle called drafting...