Migratory Birds

Arctic Terns: The Longest Migration on Earth

Arctic terns travel from pole to pole each year, facing mounting threats from climate change and bycatch.

Key Facts

Arctic terns migrate up to 90,000 km round-trip annually — the longest migration of any animal
They experience two polar summers per year, benefiting from extended daylight for feeding
A single tern may travel over 2.4 million km in its lifetime
Bycatch in longline fisheries kills tens of thousands of seabirds including terns each year
Climate change is shifting the timing of prey availability along migration routes

Welfare Considerations

The energetic demands of pole-to-pole migration mean any disruption — reduced prey, oil spills, or entanglement — can be lethal. The immense distances traveled make recovery from injury or disorientation nearly impossible. Protection of stopover habitats and ocean prey species is critical.

What You Can Do

Support seabird-safe fishing practices and certification programs
Back international marine protected area networks that cover migration corridors
Reduce plastic and oil pollution that contaminates ocean feeding areas