Cretaceous Arctic Birds from the Prince Creek Formation of Northern Alaska

This lecture presented by Lauren Wilson from Princeton University at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology explores the fascinating discovery of bird fossils from the Campanian Prince Creek Formation of northern Alaska. Discover how these 72.8-million-year-old fossils provide evidence that birds have been migrating to the Arctic to nest and raise their young since the Cretaceous period. Learn about how ancient birds, like their modern counterparts, likely benefited from seasonally abundant food resources and periods of continuous summer daylight in the Arctic region. The 39-minute talk, delivered on April 3, 2025, offers valuable insights into the evolutionary history of bird migration patterns and Arctic ecosystems.