Scientists have recently discovered that geese fly across the lofty Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau during migration in a unique rollercoaster pattern.

Researchers from Bangor University in the United Kingdom attached custom-made data loggers to monitor the geese during their migration period beginning from their breeding grounds in Mongolia up to Tibet and India.

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These loggers recorded important information, including the birds' heart rate, high altitude pressure and body acceleration. Geese are famous for their ability to cross the Himalayas in one day and this time made this journey at night.

Unfortunately, researchers didn't gain information about how high the geese flew in the mountains or how much energy they used up to complete their journey. Geese are often thought to fly at altitudes as high as 7,000 meters. 

Instead of using tailwinds, the geese flew across the mountains in a manner similar to a rollercoaster. The geese resorted to this method of to save on energy and lower their heart rates to around 328 beats every minute, which is similar to 120 beats per minute for humans. This rate can be compared to a jogging pace for humans.

Pressure sensors attached to the geese recorded data that showed the geese took the most efficient route to traverse these high mountains.

The geese didn't complete the entire journey in one long flight, however. They conducted three to four flights and then rested for a week in between.

Data reveals remarkable new insights about the migratory geese. Geese use this rollercoaster method of flying using an uplift surge of winds and taking advantage of high density air.

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