Arctic tern

Short abstract from the book:
Arctic tern is a common breeding bird in the Faroes with an estimated population of 7,600 pairs. 12,278 arctic terns have been ringed in the Faroes, most on Mykineshólmur (3,878). The first was ringed in 1924, and most were ringed in 1962, 1966 and 1968. The majority have been ringed as chicks (88%). There are 95 recoveries (0.8%). Juvenile dispersal or migration commences soon after fledging. 41 birds ringed as chicks were recovered within two months, and four of these were recovered from abroad (Greenland, France, Spain, Morocco). The early autumn recoveries are from France, Cameroon and southern England. In September, the mean position of the recoveries is still off southern Europe, but in October it has moved to Central Africa (recoveries from Morocco, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Angola). During the winter period, recoveries are from Nigeria and South Africa. Only few recoveries are from the return migration. The earliest arctic terns in the Faroes in spring were recovered on 5 and 15 June, respectively. A high proportion of arctic terns are recovered dead (83%), in most cases the cause is unknown (82%). Mortality is high during the first year. The oldest arctic tern ringed in the Faroes was ringed as a chick on 15 July 1956 on Borðan, Nólsoy and found dead 23 July 1980 in the village of Nólsoy, 24 years old.

Read more about the species in the chapter from The Faroese Bird Migration Atlas here