Cues for and synchrony of reproductive behaviour in an extreme long-distance migrant

Successful reproduction in migratory species, especially in species that breed in sites with strong seasonal reproductivity, is determined by three key aspects: (1) arrival timing at the breeding site, (2) synchrony in arrival timing, and (3) state of the environment at time of arrival. We aim to characterise these three key aspects and the how individuals coordinate their reproductive timing (i.e. using a ‘cue’) in an extreme-long distance migrant, the Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea). At an established colony in Ny-Alesund, I will collect individual level behavioural and reproductive data at a very fine resolution and combine this with existing data.