The Arctic Tern holds the record for the farthest migration distance - It travels from its’ Arctic breeding grounds to the Antarctic and back again each year (pole to pole). How far is that? “Scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS), Greenland, Denmark, the United States and Iceland, successfully mapped the migratory movements using a tiny tracking instrument known as a geolocater.” They found they did not go directly south, but instead they stopped for nearly a month in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean before continuing their non direct route. The birds in the group that traveled the farthest - 44,000 miles. Over a lifespan of roughly 34 years - the equivalent of three trips to the moon and back over its lifetime.[1]
Although not a Shorebird, an Albatross is a Seabird…Did You Know that Wisdom, a Laysan Albatross is the oldest known banded bird in the world? She was banded on her nest as an adult on December 10, 1956 by Chandler Robbins. They reach sexual maturity at a minimum of 5 years old and sometimes as old as 10 years. That makes her at least 74 years old (2025); and what is truly amazing-as of last year she is still breeding. Wisdom has laid approximately 50 to 60 eggs, and has fledged as many as 30 chicks to over the years.
The American Woodcock, a forest-dwelling shorebird is known for its’ Sky Dance? During a short period in March (for MD) you may be lucky enough to witness (at least hear) this Sky Dance; the mating display of the male Woodcock. The habitat they choose for mating is old fields at forest edges. They begin their display about 15-20 minutes after dusk. The male will begin a series of nasally peent calls from the ground, he will then fly up in spirals, higher and higher. As the wind passes over their wings it makes a chirping sound. After a few minutes of this he will fly back down and land at the same spot he took off from. He will then repeat this process. The females are on the ground witnessing this display and may choose a male to mate with.
Another interesting fact about the American Woodcock - How it walks. It walks with a rocking motion. It is thought they do this as they are hunting for worms, causing the worm to move to the surface. Of course who can resist putting this to music.
Other names for the American Woodcock - Timberdoodle, Bogsucker, Labrador twister, Night partridge, Mud snipe, Big-eye, Brush snipe, Swamp bat, Fiddle squeak, Wood snipe, Mudsnipe, and Mudbat.
This was a wonderful evening to witness the Sky Dance at Pickering Creek Audubon Center, Easton, MD. Although too dark to see the display, we heard it. At the beginning of the recording you will hear a Barred Owl call, then you will hear the male Woodcock in the air as the wind is passing over his wings making the chirping sound. He then lands and a few seconds later you will hear him begin the peent calls.
[1] Egevang, C. (2010), Press Release-Arctic terns confirmed to have the longest animal migration in the world, DOI:https://www.bas.ac.uk/media-post/arctic-terns-confirmed-to-have-the-longest-animal-migration-in-the-world/