Our Mission and Values at GBT...
Here at GBT we hope to foster an interest in all things birding, and in so doing, also create a deep and abiding respect for our natural environment. We do so without taking ourselves too serioulsy, but we do take the state of our environment very seriously. We share our knowledge and our passion for all things birding willingly and enthusiastically.
Arctic Tern Other Names: Afrikaans: Arktiese Seeswael, Arktiese Sterretjie French: Sterne arctique Spanish: Charrán ártico, Gaviotín del Artico Xhosa: Unothenteza Sterna paradisaea Photo of an Arctic Tern in breeding plumage by Anke Huber. Sexes look a like but the Juvenile has brown or greyish bars across its back. Immatures resemble the non-breeding adult. A non-breeding adult has a white forehead and the back of the head is blackish. The crown is streaked with black. Its underparts are white, this bill is all black, the shoulders are dusky and the legs are dark brownish red to black. Distribution: Breeding Range: Red Non-breeding Range: Blue Migration Route: Green The migration Route covers perhaps 40,000 km (the farthest yearly journey of any bird). Habitat: They breed in open tundra, boreal forest or on rocky islands and beaches. Migrates far off shore and Winters on the edge of an ice pack. Food: Krill, insects and small fish. Breeding: Arctic Terns mate for life. Most Arctic Terns return to the area where they were hatched, often to the same colony. Courtship begins with a so-called "high flight", where a Female will chase the Male to a high altitude and then slowly descend. This is shortly followed by a "fish flight". Males take a small fish in their bill and pass as low as they can over the Female on the ground. If she notices him she'll join him in doing this "fish flight" and they will soon mate. They breed in colonies. Nest: The nest is a scrape in gravel or grass, or platform of vegetation or debris. It is placed on the ground in open. Eggs: Usually 2 eggs are laid. They are olive to buff, marked with numerous small spots and blotches of dark brown, often concentrated around the larger end. Incubation: 20 to 24 days by both parents. Nestling: The chicks have down, open eyes are are able to walk but stays in nest. Hatchlings come in two colors: grey or brown. Chicks within the same brood may be of different colors. Photo of an Arctic Tern chick by Anke Huber. Interesting Facts: # They fly non-stop for 8 months of each year. They rest and feed on the sea as they go along. # Due to their migration, they experience two Summers each year. # Many Arctic Terns reach the age of 20 years.
.gif "Africa Birds and Birding Magazine")
