Arctic terns - the champion of flight routes

The latest study shows that each year the terns must migrate up to 71,000 km, more than twice as much as previous studies, winning the championship over the length of the migratory route, more than the seagulls. black 6,400km.

The tiny northern terns weigh only 113 grams on the migration path.
Photo: National Geographic

The chart shows that this tiny bird - weighing only 113 grams - flew 71,000km along the zigzag line from Greenland to Antarctica. Carsten Egevang, head of the project, said: "There are many theories, but now we know the exact path of migratory birds."

Instead of flying straight, the bird chose a very circular flight. For example, on the way back from Antarctica to Greenland, this species flew to Africa and then to South America before flying to the North Pole. Egevang said: "This costs thousands of kilometers of air routes. But when analyzing the flight path, you will find them reasonable." With routes like this, they take advantage of the wind and never have to fly against the wind.

According to calculations by scientists, the average polar terns live 30 years and so in their lifetime, this bird will fly a total of 2.4 million km - equivalent to three trips from the left. Land to the moon and return.

Known in time, scientists can only know the migratory routes of large birds because the equipment attached to birds is often heavy and unsuitable for small species. However, the team had a tracking device that weighed only 1.4 grams, light enough to attach to the feet of this arctic tern.