News
Arctic survey counts fewer terns for a third year
Arctic terns fly further than any other bird. Scientists now fear their breeding colonies are running out of food.
Science correspondent
5 min read
A monitoring site on the tundra. Breeding pairs here fell by 18% this season.
For the third year running, researchers counting Arctic terns along the northern coast have recorded a decline. This summer, breeding pairs at monitored colonies fell by 18%.
The cause appears to be food: the small fish terns feed their chicks are moving into colder, deeper water.
A long-distance warning
Arctic terns migrate from pole to pole, covering around 70,000 kilometres a year. Because they depend on food at both ends, they are sensitive indicators of change across entire ocean systems.
“If the terns are struggling, the whole food web beneath them is shifting,” the survey’s coordinator said.
Researchers plan to fit a sample of birds with lightweight trackers next season to see where they now feed.
Topics
Leo Hartmann
Science correspondent
Leo writes about research, researchers and the long road from lab to headline.
