This is Bird Note.

Every summer, millions of birds flock to the Arctic Circle to find mates and raise their young.

Now, a new study suggests that this tradition has been going strong since the age of the dinosaurs.

Paleontologists found evidence of the earliest known Arctic breeding colony from fossils uncovered in northern Alaska.

The site dates back nearly 73 million years, when many prehistoric predecessors to modern birds still had teeth,

including the gull-like ichthyornithians and the flightless, loon-like

Hesperornithians. These were among several types of ancient avians preserved as both adults

and hatchlings, which suggests the site was used for nesting. There were even fossils from early

members of bird lineages that gave rise to the ducks and

chickens still around today.

But why the Arctic?

Just like today, these birds were likely taking advantage of the abundant food provided by

the 24 hours of summer daylight.

The traits that allowed early modern birds to thrive in the Arctic climate

might have even helped them survive the mass extinction

that wiped out the rest of the dinosaurs.

You'll find more about Arctic birds, both past and present, when you visit our website, birdnote.org.

I'm Ade Ben Salahideen.