📷 Rufous hummingbird at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, Wyoming | Tom Koerner / USFWS
As the days lengthen and the snow melts, a tiny traveler prepares for an epic journey. The Rufous Hummingbird, weighing no more than a penny, is about to embark on an incredible migration from its winter home in Mexico to the Pacific Northwest of the United States. With an innate sense of navigation, the bird will navigate across thousands of miles, traversing mountain ranges, deserts, and vast bodies of water. The journey is treacherous, and only the strongest and fittest will survive. Yet, despite the many challenges, the Rufous Hummingbird's annual migration is a testament to the incredible endurance and resilience of migratory birds.
Today on World Migratory Bird Day we celebrate globally the incredible journeys birds make each year as they travel thousands of miles between their breeding and wintering grounds. This year's theme is water, which is fitting since migratory birds rely heavily on aquatic ecosystems throughout their life cycles.
Migratory bird flyways in North America | North Dakota Game and Fish Department
Migratory birds depend on a variety of water-based habitats, such as inland and coastal wetlands, rivers, lakes, streams, marshes, and ponds. These habitats serve as important areas for feeding, drinking, nesting, and resting during their long journeys. Unfortunately, development, pollution, and climate change often threaten these vital habitats. It is essential to conserve these areas, now more than ever.
In the United States alone, wetland loss has reached 50% in some areas, leading to a decline in waterfowl populations. An estimated 2.9 billion birds have been lost in North America since 1970 due to habitat destruction and other factors. According to the State of Birds 2022, more than half of U.S. bird species are declining. These statistics highlight the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect these amazing creatures' habitats and migration routes.
National wildlife refuges play a crucial role in conserving these vital habitats for migratory birds. The National Wildlife Refuge System includes over 560 individual refuges and thousands of wetlands, providing critical stopover points and nesting areas for birds on their journeys across the Americas.
At many national wildlife refuges, water is the key to the survival of migratory birds. Wetlands are significant, as they provide breeding and nesting habitat for many species and crucial feeding areas during migration. These wetlands are often interconnected, forming a network of habitats that birds can use as they move across the landscape.
In addition to wetlands, many national wildlife refuges also have rivers, streams, and other waterways that provide important habitats for migratory birds. These habitats can be critical during migration when birds must refuel before continuing their journey.
Sandhill cranes at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico during Festival of the Cranes | Marvin De Jong / USFWS Volunteer
One example of a national wildlife refuge critical for migratory birds is the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. This refuge includes over 57,000 acres of wetlands and other habitats that provide critical stopover habitats for sandhill cranes and other migratory birds.
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, located on Virginia's Eastern Shore, is another vital stopover site for migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway. This refuge's diverse range of habitats, including beaches, marshes, and maritime forests, offer essential breeding, nesting, and feeding grounds for over 320 bird species, including some endangered and threatened species. The refuge is home to several noteworthy birds, such as the peregrine falcon, clapper rail, northern harrier, and the great egret.
National wildlife refuges are also important for conserving water resources themselves. By protecting wetlands, rivers, and other waterways, the refuge system helps ensure that these critical resources are available for wildlife and people alike.
Northern Shoveler wades through marsh water at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia | Aubrey Kurtz / USFWS
The National Wildlife Refuge System has been working to protect and conserve migratory bird habitats by creating and managing protected areas that serve as crucial stopover points for birds on their long journeys. However, these habitats continue to face threats such as climate change, habitat loss, and human disturbance. To address these challenges, the Refuge System has implemented various conservation strategies, including habitat restoration, invasive species management, and monitoring of bird populations. The Migratory Bird Conservation Act and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act are fundamental laws providing funding for conservation efforts and habitat restoration projects. Additionally, partnerships with conservation organizations and local communities are critical to ensuring the long-term protection of migratory bird habitats within the National Wildlife Refuge System.
National wildlife refuges are havens of natural beauty, teeming with life and bursting with vibrant color. They are magical places where time seems to stand still, and the only sounds are the rustling of leaves and the trilling of songbirds. But they are more than just pretty places. They are truly refuges where the incredible journeys of migratory birds are protected and fostered. Without these refuges, the awe-inspiring sight of flocks of birds soaring through the sky on their epic migrations could be lost forever. So let's come together on World Migratory Bird Day and vow to do all we can to ensure that these magnificent creatures continue to grace our skies for generations to come.