Reconnecting the skies: Linking flyways for migratory seabirds across continents
Arctic terns make the longest migration of any creature on Earth, with some Sterna paradisaea clocking more than 80,000 kilometers (49,709 miles) a year, flying from the Southern Ocean to their breeding grounds in the Arctic — and back. For a tiny bird, weighing less than an iPhone, it’s an astounding feat. South polar skuas […]
Arctic terns undertake the longest migration of any creature on Earth, flying over 80,000 kilometers annually between the Southern Ocean and Arctic breeding grounds. Similar figure-eight journeys are made by South polar skuas and grey-headed albatrosses, traversing the Atlantic and Southern Oceans respectively. These vast migratory routes, largely hidden from human view, were recently mapped by researchers using advanced tracking technology.
A collaborative effort involving nearly a hundred experts from BirdLife International identified six key marine flyways crossing the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Southern Oceans, affecting the waters of 56 countries. Despite their global reach, seabirds are among the most threatened bird species, with over 30% facing extinction risks.
Migratory seabirds confront numerous dangers across their vast territories, from national waters to the high seas and during stopovers.
Written by urgent.news from Mongabay's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
