Migratory Bird Initiative

Using the best available migration science to protect birds and the places they need across their full annual life cycles.

The mission of the Migratory Bird Initiative is to secure the future of migratory birds in the Western Hemisphere by reducing direct threats and protecting key places across the Americas in coordination with science, conservation and policy partners.

The Initiative brings together the latest spatial information on species distributions and movements across their annual cycles to identify priority areas for 458 species of migratory birds that regularly occur in the United States and Canada. We will use this information to define where and how to focus ±¬ÁϹ«Éç’s conservation investments in order to protect, restore and manage key habitat and also mitigate threats along full migratory pathways for these species.

±¬ÁϹ«Éç expects to achieve these goals by 1) consolidating and elevating the best-available migration science, filling research gaps and identifying real-time threats throughout annual cycle; 2) strengthening connections and cooperation among key stakeholders such as government agencies, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions and the ±¬ÁϹ«Éç network, and 3) informing policy advocacy at the local, state and federal level to drive science-based conservation.

Migratory birds face threats during all stages of the annual cycle, and these threats are accelerating. Fortunately, scientific data, particularly during migration, are accumulating; however, we need to act swiftly and collectively to protect birds and the places they need before the opportunities to do so disappear. Partnerships will be central to the success of the Migratory Bird Initiative, and ±¬ÁϹ«Éç looks forward to building and strengthening relationships with other key research and conservation organizations.

If you are a researcher and would like to contribute data to ±¬ÁϹ«Éç's Migratory Bird Initiative, please fill out this . If you would like to contact us for more information, please email migratorybirds@audubon.org

The Bird Migration Explorer is your guide to the heroic annual journeys made by over 450 bird species, and the challenges they face along the way.

Learn more about a species, the migratory birds at a specific location, or a conservation challenge birds face.

Our Migratory Bird Initiative Staff

Chad Wilsey

Vice President and Chief Scientist

Jill Deppe

Jill Deppe

Senior Director, Migratory Bird Initiative

Melanie Smith

Melanie A. Smith

Director, Digital Science & Data Products

Nat Seavy

Nat Seavy

Director of Migration Science, Migratory Bird Initiative, ±¬ÁϹ«Éç

Erika Knight

Erika Knight

GIS and Data Science Specialist

Chad Witko

Chad Witko

Senior Coordinator, Avian Biology

Bill DeLuca

William DeLuca

Senior Manager, Migration Ecology

Nicolas Gonzalez

Senior Communications Manager, Migration Science

Migratory Bird News

Remember that ±¬ÁϹ«Éç depends on your support to do the conservation work that we do.
Saving Colombia's Forests Is Crucial to Protect Prothonotary Warblers
June 19, 2019 — A new study shows that almost the entire population winters in a region with rampant deforestation—a finding that could help target conservation.
Four Decades of Building Strike Records Point to ‘Super Collider’ Birds
April 03, 2019 — A new study finds that quiet fliers are safer than more social species when it comes to avoiding urban hazards on nocturnal migrations.
For All Their Splendor, We Still Know Little About Painted Bunting Migration
March 08, 2019 — A research project using geolocators aims to help scientists better understand where the birds overwinter and recent population declines.
Endangered Kirtland’s Warbler Makes Unexpected Debut in Jamaica
February 15, 2019 — Scientists aren't sure whether the appearance is a range expansion or a migration mishap. Either way, it's a sign of the species' recovery.
How Many Birds Disappear Between Migration Seasons? We Now Have a Clue.
December 20, 2018 — New research has found that a third of the avian population that winters in the mainland United States might not survive till spring. But why?
A Popular New Migration Tool Could Save Birds from Deadly Building Collisions
September 14, 2018 — BirdCast can accurately forecast the biggest migration movements days in advance. This is good news for birds and birders alike.
Follow a Young Plover as It Heads South for the Winter
September 04, 2018 — Left behind by their parents, juvenile Black-bellied Plovers must rely on instincts to find their way.
Three Ways You Can Help Migrating Birds This Fall
August 28, 2018 — Migrants heading south face myriad man-made obstacles, but there are actions we can all take to save their lives.
Acid-Covered Caterpillars Are a Delicacy for Migrating Swainson's Hawks
April 24, 2018 — Each spring, thousands of the ravenous raptors descend on California's Anza-Borrego desert to gorge themselves on a buffet of moth larvae.
This Little Warbler Could Lead to Big Discoveries About Migration
March 28, 2018 — After bouncing back from near extinction, the Kirtland's Warbler is helping scientists understand the outsize role of winter habitat for migratory birds.
Featured Migratory Birds in ±¬ÁϹ«Éç Field Guide
American White Pelican
Pelicans
! Priority Bird
Bald Eagle
Hawks and Eagles
Blackpoll Warbler
Wood Warblers
! Priority Bird
Black Skimmer
Gulls and Terns
Broad-winged Hawk
Hawks and Eagles
Eared Grebe
Grebes
Golden Eagle
Hawks and Eagles
! Priority Bird
Long-billed Curlew
Sandpipers
Painted Bunting
Cardinals, Grosbeaks and Buntings
Rufous Hummingbird
Hummingbirds
Whimbrel
Sandpipers
! Priority Bird
Wood Thrush
Thrushes