The Polar Retrospective looks at recent stories from around the world’s polar regions. This week we take a look at ancient arctic birds that lived with dinosaurs, AI that helps protect migrating caribou across fragile sea ice, and wildfires in Canada.
The Polar Retrospective is a collaborative effort by the editorial team of polarjournal.net. Each writer chooses a topic they found interesting and important in the past week. The initials at the end of each section indicate the author. We hope you enjoy it.
Oldest Bird Fossils Found in Arctic
A study published in Science on May 29th pushes back by more than 25 million years the age of the oldest bird fossil discovered in the Arctic. Researchers from the University of Fairbanks have identified remains dating back 73 million years, proving that birds nested in this region since the Cretaceous period and that they coexisted with dinosaurs.
The fossils come from the Prince Creek excavation site, on the banks of the Colville River, in northern Alaska. This site has been supplying museum collections since the 1980s. Among these, bird chick remains are rare and fragile. The smallest fragments were observed under a microscope. They appear to come from bird skeletons resembling loons, gulls, geese, and ducks.
Birds have existed for 150 million years. However, among the bones, researchers found skeletal structures and noted the absence of true teeth, which aligns them with modern birds. If their suspicions are confirmed, the researchers may have described the oldest known birds of a group that includes modern birds. “We would need to find a partial or complete skeleton to be certain,” explains Patrick Druckenmiller, director of the University of Alaska Museum of the North.
The oldest specimens of this pivotal group are about 66 million years old, such as Vegavis iaai discovered on the Antarctic Peninsula. According to Patrick Druckenmiller, further details on the birds from the Prince Creek formation could support the idea that “the Arctic is considered the nursery for modern birds.” C.L
Artificial intelligence helps guide caribou across melting Arctic sea ice
Twice a year, Dolphin and Union caribou undertake a remarkable migration across sea ice in the Canadian Arctic — a journey increasingly threatened by climate change. Each spring, they travel north from the mainland to calving grounds on Victoria Island, returning south again in autumn once the sea ice has re-formed. But as warming temperatures lead to thinner, less predictable ice and increased shipping activity, these crossings have become far more dangerous, with rising mortality among the herd.
A new study led by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), in collaboration with The Alan Turing Institute, WWF, and the Government of Nunavut, introduces a promising conservation tool. Published in Ecological Solutions and Evidence, the research team developed an AI-based forecasting system that combines satellite data, GPS tracking of caribou, and local expertise. The tool builds on IceNet, a machine learning model that can predict sea ice formation up to three months in advance.
By linking historical migration timing with predicted ice conditions, the system provides early warnings of when caribou are likely to start crossing. This enables local authorities to take short-term protective action — such as recommending limits on ice-breaking ships, which can fracture migration corridors and create dangerous open-water leads.
The Dolphin and Union caribou is a genetically distinct subspecies endemic to the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut. They are vital to the culture and subsistence of Inuit and Inuvialuit communities. The new AI tool, guided by Indigenous knowledge, offers a practical way to support conservation in a region warming four times faster than the global average.
Researchers hope the approach could also be adapted to forecast the seasonal movements of other Arctic species, such as polar bears and walrus, helping mitigate conflicts and better prepare for the future of a rapidly changing Arctic. J.H.
Manitoba is burning
Over 26 000 people have already been evacuated in Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Manitoba is particularly hard hit: the province has declared a state of emergency as wildfires have already ravaged more than 200 000 hectares—three times the annual average. The largest blazes, notably the Bird River and Border fires, remain out of control. The military has been deployed, and reinforcements from Quebec’s firefighting units are expected on Tuesday.
According to Natural Resources Canada, a combination of high temperatures, low relative humidity, and strong winds sparked the fires. The release of dense smoke has significantly worsened air quality in several regions of Canada and the United States, also leading to reduced visibility.
Manitoba declared a state of emergency last week. The province is facing devastating fires and had to evacuate 17,000 residents. Many individuals and families redirected to Winnipeg have been unable to find adequate temporary lodging in the city’s hotels due to a lack of space. Leaders from Manitoba’s First Nations gathered last Saturday in the provincial capital to urge federal, provincial, and municipal governments to mobilize hotel space to accommodate evacuees.
The fires currently ravaging the region do not bode well for the coming months. Canadian authorities warn that the wildfire season is likely to be “above average” through the rest of spring and summer in central and western provinces. The 2023 season already shattered records, with more than 15 million hectares burned—over seven times the historical average.
For now, with no significant rainfall in sight, the situation remains critical. Authorities continue to urge the public to remain vigilant and to comply with evacuation orders to ensure their safety. M.B.