A new study, published in the Dutch ornithological journal Ardea, has revealed that Arctic Terns breeding in the northern part of The Netherlands are following previously unknown routes to their wintering grounds in the Antarctic. Seven terns were fitted with geolocators in 2011 and all the birds were recaptured in 2012; of the five devices that gave information, it was revealed that two individuals had passed the southern Australian coastline and one individual had even reached New Zealand before returning to the Southern Ocean!

Arctic Tern

The Arctic Tern - Sterna paradisaea - is a seabird in the Sternidae family. It has a Circmpolar breeding distribution covering the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America. They are  strongly migratory, seeing two summers each year as they migrate from its northern breeding grounds along a winding route to the oceans around Antarctica and back, a round trip of about 70,900 km (c. 44,300 miles) each year. The above study reveals that they cover a far more kilometers/miles. These Terns are long-lived birds, with many reaching thirty years of age.

Description

They are mainly grey and white plumaged, with a red beak and feet, white forehead, a black nape and crown, and white cheeks. The upper wing is grey with a white leading edge, and the collar is completely white, as is the rump. The deeply forked tail is whitish, with grey outer webs. The hind-crown to the ear-coverts is black. Juveniles differ from adults in their black bill and legs.

Call

They have a variety of  calls. The most common being the alarm call and the advertising call which is social in nature, made when returning to the colony and during aggressive encounters between individuals.

Food

These Terns eat mainly fish and small marine invertebrates.

Breeding

Arctic Terns mate for life, and in most cases, return to the same colony each year. Breeding begins around the third or fourth year and they nest once every one to three years. Courtship is elaborate and begins with a so-called "high flight", where a female will chase the male to a high altitude and then slowly descend. This display is followed by "fish flights", where the male will offer fish to the female. One to three mottled and camouflaged eggs are laid, the young hatch after 22 to 27 days and fledge after 21 to 24 days.  

Conservation Status – Least concern

The Arctic tern is classified as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List. It is included in the Birds of Conservation Concern Amber List. This Tern receives general protection in Great Britain under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and listed under Annex I of the EC Birds Directive. Listed as a Species of European Conservation Concern. The main threats facing this species include nest predation by hedgehogs, introduced American mink and rats, as well as coastal development, disturbance by recreational activities, and a lack of the most important food source, sandeels, possibly caused by over-fishing by humans.  

Birdwatching

Ask Aves Birding Tours to create a custom tour for you to see these beautiful terns.