In Antarctica, the most memorable animal is undoubtedly the penguin. But in the Arctic, it's not the polar bear that commands respect, but the Arctic tern. While penguins are friendly and endearing, they can appear somewhat silly; whereas the Arctic tern, though small and delicate, is agile and powerful, often inspiring awe.
Arctic Tern
Common seagull
The Arctic tern can be considered the king of birds. They breed in the Arctic but migrate to the Antarctic for the winter, making a round trip between the two poles each year, covering tens of thousands of kilometers. Although humans are the most intelligent of all beings and have created highly modern airplanes, making such a round trip between the poles is by no means easy. Therefore, the tern's spirit and courage in pursuing light despite hardships are particularly worthy of human emulation. Because they always spend their days in the polar summer, where the sun never sets, they are the only creatures on Earth that live perpetually in the light. Furthermore, they possess remarkable resilience. In 1970, a tern with a leg band was captured, and it was discovered that the band had been placed on it in 1936. This means that this Arctic tern had lived for at least 34 years. Therefore, it must have flown at least 1.5 million kilometers in its lifetime.
Sebane gulls that overwinter in Africa and South America and breed in Alaska
Arctic terns are not only exceptional fliers but also fiercely aggressive and incredibly brave. Although they often quarrel and fight amongst themselves, they immediately set aside their differences and unite against any invading enemy. In fact, they frequently gather in large flocks of thousands for collective defense. Minks and foxes, who love to steal Arctic tern eggs and chicks, often hesitate and think twice before approaching such a powerful force. Not only these small animals, but even the most powerful animal in the Arctic, the polar bear, fears them. Someone once witnessed a breathtaking scene: on a small island, a hungry polar bear was trying to stealthily approach a flock of Arctic terns. However, its large size prematurely gave it away. Suddenly, the quarreling terns fell silent, then took flight, launching a series of attacks, swooping down and raining blows at the bear's head with their sharp beaks. Although the polar bear was fierce, it had no way to fight back and could only parry. It had no choice but to shake its head, tiptoe, and scurry away.
To protect themselves from fox attacks, Arctic gulls build their nests on cliffs.
Ivory Tern
The Arctic tern is also a graceful bird, with a long beak and bright red feet, as if carved from ruby. Its head is black, like a woolen hat. The upper body feathers are grayish-white, blending seamlessly with the sea when viewed from above. The lower body feathers are entirely black, making them difficult for fish to spot from below. Combined with its pointed wings and long tail, it embodies the ingenious craftsmanship and perfect design of nature. One could say that the Arctic tern is a divine creature of the Arctic!
