Pacific Flyway
The Pacific Flyway is a major north-south route of travel for migratory birds in America, extending from Alaska to Patagonia. Every year, migratory birds travel some or all of this distance both in spring and in fall, following food sources, heading to breeding grounds, or travelling to overwintering sites.
Any given bird species travels roughly the same route every year, at almost the same time. Ornithologists and "bird lovers" can often predict to the day when a particular species will show up in their area.
Notable locations along the Pacific Flyway
Along the Pacific Flyway, there are many key rest stops where birds of many species gather, sometimes in the millions, to feed and regain their strength before continuing. Some species may remain in these rest stops for the entire season, but most stay a few days before moving on.
- Notable locations include:
- Boundary Bay, British Columbia, has been listed as an Important Bird Area by the Canadian government in recognition of its value to migratory birds.
- Alaksen National Wildlife Area, on Westham Island off Richmond, British Columbia
- Vic Fazio Yolo Wildlife Area in the Yolo Bypass in the Central Valley of California is a protected area along the flyway.
- Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges Complex consists of several different wildlife refuges on the border of Oregon and California.
- Suisun Marsh, next to the exit of the inverted Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, has protected portions.
- San Francisco Bay, protected estuaries and mountain open space preserves.
- Great Salt Lake, Utah, a Great Basin hub of flyway.
- Monterey Bay, protected estuaries and mountain open space preserves.
- Salton Sea, an inland Colorado Desert saline endorheic lake in Southern California, hosts many birds and has surrounding wildlife refuges.
- San Diego Bay, which includes several areas designated as part of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
See also
Further reading
- Robert M. Wilson. Seeking Refuge: Birds and Landscapes of the Pacific Flyway (University of Washington Press; 2010) 245 pages
External links