The Arctic tern is a small sea bird that makes the longest migration journey of all.It travels between the poles covering about 35,000 km(22,000 miles) in a year!It spends May and June breeding in the Arctic summer.As soon as the young ones are ready to fly,the Arctic tern flies off to the Antarctic.It spends November and December in the Antarctic,where it is summer then.So this bird enjoys two summers in a year!

Arctic tern lay 1-2 eggs each breeding season.Both the parents care for the eggs and also feed the hatchlings.When they are one month old,the young birds learn to fly and feed themselves.They even dive into the sea to catch fish!When they are about three months old they fly all the way to the warm Antarctic with the help of their parents.The young ones stay in the Antarctic until they are about two years old,after which they migrate back to their birthplace.On the return journey,they fly without the help of their parents!

Creature Profile:

Common Name:Arctic tern

Scientific Name:Sterna Paradisaea

Found in:Summer:parts of North America and Eurasia winter:Southern edge of Antarctica

Length:30-38cm(12-15 inch)

Weight:900g

Diet:Fish,krill,insects

Status:Threatened,mainly due to habitat destruction