The USGS Ecosystems Mission Area (including researchers in the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program) recently released a geonarrative about science supporting fish and wildlife migrations throughout North America. “Migration Matters” provides an interactive way to visualize migrations noting that by land, air, and water, USGS science supports fish and wildlife migration throughout North America.

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Countless species of animals – big game, birds, bats, insects, amphibians, reptiles, and fish – migrate to reach suitable habitats to feed, reproduce, and raise their young. Animal migrations developed over millennia oftentimes follow migration corridors—unique routes for each species and sometimes each population—to move among seasonal habitats.

Animal migrations developed over millennia oftentimes follow migration corridors—unique routes for each species and sometimes each population—to move among seasonal habitats.

Some migrations happen on a grand scale. Thousands of species of birds, bats, and butterflies take long migratory flights across North America and beyond, and these events are a source of recreation for millions of outdoor enthusiasts such as hunters, birders, and butterfly watchers. Other migrations, such as those by amphibians, are much more localized and cover only a few meters to a few kilometers.

Check out the work USGS scientists are doing to help understand wildlife migration and how this science benefits wildlife and habitat conservation.

Migration Science Resources

Publications

By land, air, and water — U.S. Geological Survey science supporting fish and wildlife migrations throughout North America

USGS Series Reports and Journal Articles

Data

USGS Data Releases

Multimedia

Videos

The ONB features articles from the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program, U.S. Geological Survey. The Units are leading exciting, new fish and wildlife research projects that we believe our audiences appreciate reading about.