Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) on street sign - Nome, AK
I have already uploaded flight shots of this species from Nome and don't usually upload birds on non natural perches but this was a unique moment. How often do you see a Tern on a street sign? My friend who went to Nome before me told me to be prepared to sit in Subway and watch Slaty-backed Gulls in the parking lot.
Well Nome had many of those moments but I miss walking through town and seeing Aleutian and Arctic Terns on street signs. In BC I usually only see Arctic Terns on pelagic trips as they fly overhead so to get this close to one, even if it is on a street sign was pretty cool. I find Terns to be so elegant. The Aleutian Tern in Nome was a lifer for me but seeing an Arctic Tern up close, was no less of a thrill.
Fun Fact: This bird migrates from the Arctic where it breeds to spend the winter in Antartica and flies about 40,000km. It is the farthest yearly journey of any bird. Just incredible!
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) on street sign - Nome, AK
I have already uploaded flight shots of this species from Nome and don't usually upload birds on non natural perches but this was a unique moment. How often do you see a Tern on a street sign? My friend who went to Nome before me told me to be prepared to sit in Subway and watch Slaty-backed Gulls in the parking lot.
Well Nome had many of those moments but I miss walking through town and seeing Aleutian and Arctic Terns on street signs. In BC I usually only see Arctic Terns on pelagic trips as they fly overhead so to get this close to one, even if it is on a street sign was pretty cool. I find Terns to be so elegant. The Aleutian Tern in Nome was a lifer for me but seeing an Arctic Tern up close, was no less of a thrill.
Fun Fact: This bird migrates from the Arctic where it breeds to spend the winter in Antartica and flies about 40,000km. It is the farthest yearly journey of any bird. Just incredible!