All-Star Animal Migrators

What if your summer vacation spot were hundreds of miles away, and you couldn’t use a map to get there? Do you think you could make it?

As seasons change, many species—big and small—undertake epic migrations by land, sea, and air. Some of them are looking for warmer climates or better food sources, while others need a safe place to breed.

Although the animals may face dangerous conditions or threats during their travels, many couldn’t survive if they didn’t migrate. Meet four animals that go to record-setting lengths to ensure the survival of their species.

What if your summer vacation spot were hundreds of miles away, and you couldn’t use a map to get there? Do you think you could make it?

As seasons change, many animals leave on epic migrations. They travel by land, sea, and air. Some of them are looking for warmer climates or better food sources. Others need a safe place to breed.

The animals may face dangerous conditions or threats during their travels. But many couldn’t survive if they didn’t migrate. Meet four animals that go to record-setting lengths to make sure their species survive.

When it comes to long-distance migration, birds are the champions. But one species tops the charts: the arctic tern. This small gray seabird makes the longest migration of any animal in the world—traveling up to 60,000 miles during their seasonal journey!

Arctic terns spend summers in the Arctic Circle, the northernmost part of the world. When winter arrives, temperatures drop, and food becomes scarce. To find fish, the birds begin their trek south to Antarctica—at the other end of the globe! But when it’s winter in the South Pole, it’s summer in the North Pole. So in April, the birds begin making their trip back to the Arctic.

“As with almost all birds that migrate, they’re basically trying to spend the year in the places with the best resources,” says Andrew Farnsworth, a biologist who studies bird migration at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

The average lifespan of an arctic tern is 30 years. Scientists estimate that in its lifetime, a bird will travel as many as 1.8 million miles. That’s equal to nearly four trips to the moon and back! “The distance they travel is just amazing to think about,” says Farnsworth.

When it comes to long-distance migration, birds are the champions. But one species tops the charts: the arctic tern. This small gray seabird makes the longest migration of any animal in the world. Terns travel up to 60,000 miles during their seasonal journey!

Arctic terns spend summers in the Arctic Circle, the northernmost part of the world. When winter arrives, temperatures drop, and food becomes scarce. To find fish, the birds begin their trek south to Antarctica—at the other end of the globe! But when it’s winter in the South Pole, it’s summer in the North Pole. So in April, the birds begin making their trip back to the Arctic.

“They’re basically trying to spend the year in the places with the best resources,” says Andrew Farnsworth. He’s a biologist who studies bird migration at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

An arctic tern lives about 30 years. Scientists estimate that in its lifetime, a bird will travel as many as 1.8 million miles. That’s equal to nearly four trips to the moon and back! “The distance they travel is just amazing to think about,” says Farnsworth.

Caribou are found in North America as well as Europe and Asia, where they’re known as reindeer. But two herds in Alaska and Canada go the distance. The Bathurst and Porcupine caribou herds travel between their summer and winter spots, which are about 400 miles apart. But since they take a meandering route, the animals have been tracked traveling more than 800 miles for each migration.

In the spring, melting snow triggers pregnant females to begin heading to their winter grounds in the north. There, they will give birth to their calves. Other members of the herd eventually follow.

Exactly when the journey begins depends on the weather. In years when deep snow makes traveling difficult, caribou delay their migration. “Interestingly, years where the conditions are good, they’ll go slower, taking their time,” says Kyle Joly, a biologist with the National Park Service. “And then years where they have to delay due to the snow, they’ll migrate faster to make up for that lost time.”

The caribou’s summer range provides nutritious food for the new calves but is too harsh in the winter. Once temperatures drop in the fall, caribou herds slowly head back south.

Caribou live in North America as well as Europe and Asia, where they’re known as reindeer. But two herds in Alaska and Canada really go the distance. Their summer and winter spots are about 400 miles apart, and they often take a winding route. The herds have been tracked traveling more than 800 miles for each migration!

As the snow melts in spring, pregnant female caribou head to their breeding grounds in the north. There, they will give birth to their calves. Other members of the herd eventually follow.

Exactly when the journey begins depends on the weather. In some years, deep snow makes traveling difficult. That means the caribou delay their migration. “Interestingly, years where the conditions are good, they’ll go slower, taking their time,” says Kyle Joly. He’s a biologist with the National Park Service. “And then years where they have to delay due to the snow, they’ll migrate faster to make up for that lost time.”

The caribou’s summer range provides plenty of food for the new calves when they’re born. But the weather becomes too harsh in the winter. Once temperatures drop in the fall, caribou herds slowly head back south.

Dragonflies are true world travelers, but it wasn’t until recently that scientists found out just how far they go. In a study published in 2016, researchers found that the Pantala flavescens, fittingly called the “globe skimmer,” migrates farther than any insect in the world. The researchers estimate the insects travel 4,400 miles each year.

Found on every continent except Antarctica, globe skimmers circle the world searching for mates. The insects have been spotted in swarms of hundreds of thousands crossing the Indian Ocean on their way from Asia to Africa. It’s the only known insect to migrate across ocean water.

Rutgers University biologist Jessica Ware, who led the study on the globe skimmer dragonfly, says, “We think some of their migration is tracking rainy seasons so that they can arrive in an area when there’s water.” That’s because females lay their eggs in water.

To complete these impressive journeys, the dragonflies use their wings to glide through the air. That means they don’t have to spend extra energy “flapping their wings constantly,” says Ware.

Dragonflies are true world travelers. But it wasn’t until recently that scientists found out just how far they go. The dragonfly Pantala flavescens is fittingly called the “globe skimmer.” In a study published in 2016, researchers found that it migrates farther than any insect in the world. They estimate that the insects travel 4,400 miles each year.

Globe skimmers are found on every continent except Antarctica. The insects travel the world searching for mates. Swarms of hundreds of thousands cross the Indian Ocean on their way from Asia to Africa. They’re the only known insects to migrate across the ocean.

Jessica Ware is a biologist at Rutgers University. She led the study on the globe skimmer dragonfly. Females lay their eggs in water, she explains. “We think some of their migration is tracking rainy seasons,” she says, “so that they can arrive in an area when there’s water.”

The dragonflies use their wings to glide through the air on their long journeys. That means they don’t have to waste energy “flapping their wings constantly,” says Ware.

Most sea turtles migrate between temperate feeding grounds and their nesting grounds in the tropics. These trips are often hundreds—and even thousands—of miles long.

But leatherback sea turtles are the real record holders, clocking more than 10,000 miles each year. “They’re moving around because their food, which is primarily jellyfish, is very dependent on ocean currents and nutrients,” says Daniel Evans, a biologist with the Sea Turtle Conservancy. “Leatherbacks move pretty constantly for two to three years before they come back to land to nest.”

Leatherbacks are the largest sea turtle species and are distributed throughout the world’s oceans. In the Pacific, leatherbacks will cross the entire Pacific Ocean from Asia to the west coast of the U.S. In 2008, satellites tracked a  leatherback turtle traveling a record-breaking 12,774 miles from Indonesia to Oregon!

Most sea turtles migrate. They travel between feeding grounds in temperate areas and their nesting grounds in the tropics. These trips are often hundreds—and even thousands—of miles long.

But leatherback sea turtles are the real record holders. They migrate more than 10,000 miles each year. “They’re moving around because their food, which is primarily jellyfish, is very dependent on ocean currents and nutrients,” says Daniel Evans. He’s a biologist with the Sea Turtle Conservancy. “Leatherbacks move pretty constantly for two to three years before they come back to land to nest.”

Leatherbacks are the largest sea turtle species. They can be found throughout the world’s oceans. Leatherbacks in the Pacific cross the entire ocean, from Asia to the west coast of the U.S. In 2008, satellites tracked a leatherback turtle setting a new distance record. It traveled 12,774 miles from Indonesia to Oregon!