Arctic Tern

Hi there! My name is Sterna, and I’m an Arctic Tern. I was hatched in a cozy little nest right on the ground, way up north in the Arctic. It is a very special place where the sun shines all day and all night during the summer! My feathers are sleek and white like fresh snow. I have a smart black cap on my head and a bright red beak that is perfect for catching fish. When I was young, my parents taught me everything I needed to know. They showed me how to be a great flyer, how to soar on the wind, and how to dive like an arrow into the chilly water to snatch up a tasty snack. I loved learning how to use my wings to dance in the sky above my home.

When the Arctic air started to get chilly and the days grew shorter, I felt a special tickle in my wings. It was a sign that it was time for me to go on a big adventure! Every year, my family and I fly on the longest journey of any animal in the whole world. It’s a very important trip. We travel all the way from the top of the world, the Arctic, down to the very bottom of the world, the Antarctic. It’s a super long trip that covers thousands of miles, but I love it because I get to see the whole world from above. I fly over giant, sparkling oceans that seem to go on forever and float over fluffy white clouds. From way up high, I can see big ships that look like tiny toys sailing on the water. Because we travel so far, we get to have two summers every single year—one in the north and one in the south!

After many weeks of flying, we finally arrive in Antarctica. And guess what? It’s summer here, too! Just like in the Arctic, the sun shines all day long, keeping everything bright and giving us plenty of time to find food. The cold water here is full of yummy things to eat, like little fish and tiny pink krill that swim together in big groups. I spend my days swooping and diving, filling my belly with delicious food and resting my wings after the long flight. Antarctica is like my vacation home! But soon, that familiar tickle comes back to my wings. It is the signal that it is time to fly all the way back north again, to the place where I was born, so I can build my own nest and start my own family.

My long flight back and forth is more than just a trip; it connects the two ends of our planet, the North Pole and the South Pole. People have known about my amazing travels for a very long time, ever since a scientist first described my species way back in 1763. I am a champion flyer and a true world traveler! My journey reminds everyone how incredible and connected our world is. By keeping the oceans clean and healthy, you help me and my family continue our amazing journey from pole to pole. You help us keep chasing the summer sun forever.