What Migratory Birds Tell Us About the Health of the Mississippi River

Late summer is a time of change for many—vacations ending and school years beginning. It’s also a season of celebration as we enjoy autumn harvests and fall festivals and begin our preparations for the coming winter. For birds, the transition from summer to winter creates a time of change as migratory birds begin flying south to their wintering grounds. In the Mississippi Flyway alone, more than 350 migratory bird species will journey southward for the winter, stopping along the Mississippi River and throughout the river region to rest and feed as they go. We celebrate these remarkable feats on World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD)—a biannual celebration, once for fall migration (this year on October 10, and again in the spring). 

Each fall, migratory birds give us a snapshot of the river's health. When wetlands, backwaters, and floodplain forests are thriving, birds find the food and shelter they need. When those habitats disappear, birds are often among the first to show us that something is out of balance. WMBD reminds us that birds and people are connected and that we must listen to what birds are telling us about habitats like the Mississippi River. Audubon’s Mississippi River Water program is building a more resilient and ecologically vibrant future for the river and migratory bird flyway, as well as the over 20 million people who rely on the river for water, jobs, recreation, and resilience. 

The Mississippi River is a large, complex river and floodplain ecosystem that was historically characterized as a rich mosaic of braided channels, islands, lakes, and wetlands supporting diverse plants and wildlife. Unfortunately, millions of acres of wetlands were lost throughout the river's 1.2 million square mile basin, degrading the river from its headwaters in Minnesota to the Gulf. The infrastructure put into place to  control water flow and to facilitate economic development and navigation also impacted the natural flood cycle, with consequences for ecosystems and in some cases, heightening the impacts of natural disasters and severe weather.  

Audubon envisions a healthy and connected network of habitats throughout the Mississippi River region that supports sustainable bird populations and strengthens the resilience of human communities against both human-made and natural threats. Some 60 percent of North American migratory bird species, including the Northern Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, Prothonotary Warbler, Northern Parula, and Wood Thrush, rely on the habitats of the Mississippi River for their migratory journeys. They need healthy habitats to support them on their long flights south. 

Audubon is working throughout the Mississippi Flyway on programs and projects to restore the river and uplift community voices. As we look to WMBD and the long migratory flights of millions of birds in the coming months, Audubon stands ready to celebrate the migratory journey from north to south, marking the transition geographically and seasonally, and reminding us of the importance of flyway habitat like the Mississippi River.