The ruddy turnstone known as 2TK, tagged with a plastic band and numbered metal ring, has embarked on its annual migration from Uruguay’s Punta del Este back to Canada after spending the southern hemisphere summer along the country’s Atlantic coast.
Identified since 2016 by local birdwatchers, the 14-year-old bird traveled 15,000 kilometers (9,300 miles) from Canada’s Arctic tundra to Uruguay’s coastal rocks, where it fed on mussels alongside oystercatchers. Its journey, documented by amateur ornithologist Alvaro Perez Tort, highlights the species’ remarkable navigational abilities.
"2TK stole my heart," Perez said, describing the bird’s seasonal transformation from grey plumage to brown-and-orange feathers by April. The turnstone’s movements are tracked through reportband.gov, a U.S. Geological Survey database that aggregates sightings of banded birds across continents.
Experts estimate 2TK has flown approximately 350,000 kilometers in its lifetime—equivalent to nine full circumnavigations of Earth. Banded in 2012 at Delaware Bay, the bird’s travels provide critical data for conservation efforts, particularly for species facing population declines since 1970, as noted in a 2019 Science study.
Biologist Adrian Azpiroz emphasized the importance of Uruguay’s coastal wetlands as winter habitats for migratory birds. While turnstones are not currently endangered, their numbers have decreased, underscoring the need for habitat preservation. 2TK’s annual return to Punta del Este exemplifies the loyalty of long-distance migratory birds to specific wintering grounds.
