Migration patterns of Arctic birds and their survival strategies

The Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative (AMBI), under the Arctic Council, works to protect declining Arctic bird populations by addressing threats like habitat loss and illegal hunting.

Arctic birds forage actively during summer to accumulate fat reserves, which provide energy for long migrations and survival during food-scarce winters.

Climate models suggest little auks may become year-round residents in the high Arctic due to reduced sea ice, altering their migratory strategy to adapt to new conditions.

Man-made structures like communication towers and tall buildings disorient migrating birds, leading to fatal collisions, a significant hazard for species like Arctic terns.

Satellite telemetry, including geolocators and GPS trackers, provides detailed data on migration routes, stopover sites, and timing, aiding conservation efforts.

Rock ptarmigans and other Arctic birds burrow into snow, which acts as insulation, trapping them from heat and protecting them from extreme cold and wind.

Snowy owls exhibit irruptive migrations, moving south when lemming populations, their primary prey, are low, demonstrating adaptability to food scarcity.

Arctic terns use celestial navigation, relying on the sun and stars, and sense Earth’s magnetic field to navigate accurately over thousands of miles, even in cloudy conditions.

Changes in daylight length signal hormonal changes in Arctic birds, prompting migration to align with food availability and breeding seasons, a key survival strategy.

The Arctic tern migrates approximately 25,000–50,000 miles annually between Arctic breeding grounds and Antarctic wintering grounds, the longest migration of any animal, following the summer sun for optimal feeding conditions.