Each spring and fall, millions of birds travel along a migration route called the Pacific Flyway.
Some of these long distance travelers fly from as far north as Alaska and Canada, through the United States and Mexico, and eventually blend with other flyway travelers from the mid-west and east in Central and South America. These migratory birds are seeking seasonal food sources, breeding grounds, warmer climates, or longer daylight hours.
Biologists cite several reasons why migrating wildlife are able to navigate over such long distances. Reasons include following geographic features such as coastlines, mountain ranges, and river valleys, navigating using the sun by day and stars by night, and using the earth’s magnetic field for orientation.
Coastal California is one of many stopovers along the Pacific Flyway. By the time birds stop to rest, their fat reserves are nearly exhausted. The wetlands of San Francisco Bay provide food to refuel and continue migration. The high nutrient levels of wetland plants make this a productive ecosystem. Thus Bay Area wetlands sustain a vast array of animals.
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