Subject: Migratory birds * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ********************************************************* Thursday, October 2, 1997 MARATHON BIRD In this past year, ornithologists found a bird that had traveled over 26,000 kilometers, from Finland to Australia, in a matter of months. More about this "marathon bird" -- after this on Earth and Sky. _________________________________________________________ DB: This is Earth and Sky for Thursday, October 2 -- on a record-holder among migratory birds. JB: Some bird species are great migrators. The Arctic Tern, for example, migrates from pole to pole. But the record for the longest migration in the shortest time is held by a close relative -- a juvenile Common Tern -- born in June, 1996, in Finland -- and banded shortly afterwards. Last January, this bird was found on a beach in southeastern Australia. It had flown more than 26,000 kilometers --probably at a rate of about 200 kilometers -- 120 miles -- each day. DB: Scientists speculate that the record-holding Common Tern left its nest in Finland, and headed to the Atlantic Ocean. It may have followed the coast of Africa to the Cape of Good Hope. There, it probably got caught in a storm that carried it to Australia. JB: Given its recent ordeal, this graceful marathon flier was found in excellent health. Scientists think, though, that because it was blown far off its traditional migratory route, this bird isn't likely to return to Finland. Instead, it'll probably settle down to a new life with Common Terns in Australia. DB: We have more on this marathon bird on our web site at www.earthsky.com. With thanks to the National Science Foundation, we're Block and Byrd for Earth and Sky. http://www.earthsky.com/1997/es971002.html/yr1997/sept/kling_p1_970929.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ragupathy Kannan, Ph.D. Department of Biology Westark College Fort Smith, Arkansas 72913 U.S.A. Tel: (501)788-7616 FAX: (501)788-7612 rkannan@systema.westark.edu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~