This is interspersed with

On a June day a broad stretch of Arctic tundra sparkles with color.

The low greenery, ankle high at most, is interspersed with white stones clad in orange and black

lichen. A Lapland Longsper sings its gentle song. This peaceful spell is suddenly broken by another bird taking flight.

It's a male American golden plover, a slender bird with a two-foot wingspan. It's proclaiming its nesting

territory with an aerial display known as the Butterfly Flight. After flying up 50 feet the plover switches to slow motion. It raises its

wings languidly over its body until the wing tips nearly touch, then lowers them gradually until they nearly touch, all the while calling.

The plover sustains these slow and exaggerated wing beats for nearly a minute, hanging in the air like an enormous butterfly.

Finally, holding its wings upright in a narrow V, it parachutes to the ground.

For weeks, this scene plays out during to the ground.

For weeks, this scene plays out during endless Arctic summer days as golden plovers tell their

neighbors like the Lapland Longsburs. Just's laid claim to this lovely expanse of tundra. For Bird Note, I'm Mary

McCann. Bird Note gives you the sounds of birds every day,

and you get the sights as well when you follow us on Instagram,

at Bird Note Radio.