The Arctic terns have arrived
03.05.2024
Lestrar 39
Photo: Eyþór Ingi Jónsson
The first Arctic terns of the season have arrived in the area.
The Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) holds the remarkable record of undertaking the longest known migration of any animal. These elegant birds embark on an extraordinary journey, from the Antarctic, where they spend their winters, to their breeding grounds in the north, each year. Astonishingly, the round trip for Arctic terns nesting in Iceland covers approximately 90,000 kilometers.
The Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) holds the remarkable record of undertaking the longest known migration of any animal. These elegant birds embark on an extraordinary journey, from the Antarctic, where they spend their winters, to their breeding grounds in the north, each year. Astonishingly, the round trip for Arctic terns nesting in Iceland covers approximately 90,000 kilometers.
Despite their small size, Arctic terns exhibit incredible endurance and longevity. The average Arctic tern can live for over 30 years, surpassing the lifespan of many other bird species. Throughout its lifetime, an Arctic tern will traverse vast distances, equivalent to over three round trips from Earth to the Moon.