Page 37 - The Miracle of Migration in Animals
P. 37
A variety of fish, mammals and even insects make
remarkable migratory journeys. As a group, how-
ever, the most active creatures in the world are
birds. Even up-to-date transportation vehicles are
unable to match birds in their movements.
Long Distance Travelers
In a single feeding trip, which usually takes a month, an alba-
tross can fly 15,000 kilometers (9,300 miles) without coming down to
rest. It glides smoothly over the ocean, hardly beating its wings, using
the air currents created by the waves. And in terms of straight dis-
tance, no one can compete with Arctic terns, which complete a jour-
ney each year from the North Pole to Antarctica and back—a
