Pacific Golden Plover

Golden Plover flies across the ocean –
cannot swim, and so in constant motion,
eighty-eight hours with no land to rest;
somehow knows just how much weight is best
 – extra fuel needed, but still keep fairly light.
It does not seem they have enough for flight
so far, so long, but still they make their target – how?
save energy by V-formation-flying, know
to share the load, take turns, rotate the lead,
and so they do arrive where they can feed
again (a tiny store remains in case
of unexpected winds that slow their race).

How do they know how much to feed, and when?
How do they know to fly in such co-operation?
How do they know the way when young,
and parents long ago have gone?
Interlocking networks, pathways in the brain
all are needed, all in place, or they would die.
The bird would never function
by bit-by-bit chance changes’ blundering construction.

The tiny brain has in-built great design
by supernatural skill sublime.