Waterfowl migration

Waterfowl migration is the seasonal movement of ducks, geese, and swans between breeding areas and regions used for wintering or other parts of the annual cycle.

Avian migration: The recurring seasonal movement of birds between geographically distinct areas. Waterfowl migration is one well-studied part of this broader pattern of bird movement.
Flyway: A broad geographic route used by migratory birds between seasonal ranges. Waterfowl movements are commonly monitored and managed within flyway boundaries.
Phenology: The study of recurring seasonal events in organisms and their relationships to environmental conditions. Migration timing is a conspicuous seasonal event that can shift as conditions change.
Atlantic Flyway: A major North American bird migration route extending along the Atlantic coast and inland eastern regions. Many waterfowl travel between northern breeding grounds and eastern North American wintering areas along this route.
Bird navigation: The processes birds use to determine and maintain direction during movement. Migrating waterfowl must orient across unfamiliar terrain and long distances.
Wetland: An ecosystem where water saturates or covers the soil for all or part of the year. Wetlands supply food, shelter, and breeding habitat along migration routes.
Climate change and birds: The effects of changing climate on bird distribution, behavior, survival, and reproduction. Warming can alter the timing and geography of waterfowl migration and wintering.
Pacific Flyway: A major North American bird migration route along the Pacific coast and adjacent inland regions. Its wetlands support waterfowl moving between Arctic and western North American seasonal ranges.
Circannual rhythm: An internal biological cycle with a period of about one year. Annual rhythms help time migration and other seasonal stages of waterfowl life.
Waterfowl hunting: The pursuit and taking of ducks, geese, or other waterfowl, often under regulated seasons. Migration patterns help determine where and when hunting seasons are set.

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