Wildlife on the Move

Not all wildlife migrate, but you might be surprised to learn how many do. Similar to the ducks and geese that we see flying overhead in spring and autumn, many other animals migrate - fish, insects, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Migrating wild animals travel from one habitat to another, finding their way by instinct. Migration patterns are often cyclic, predictable and very specific. Sometimes, the same individuals return to a habitat year after year. Some short-lived individuals are replaced by the next generation from season to season, or year by year - yet the new generation repeats the migration cycle.

At each change of season, natural cues signal to animals who migrate that they must move on. These cues include changes in food sources, a new life phase, or variations in weather patterns. Other indicators are a rise or fall in temperature, and longer or shorter days.

Habitat is the vital key to successful migration, providing food or resting opportunities at each end of the journey, and along the way. Migrating wildlife rely on instincts developed over thousands of years to find their way to seasonal habitat. If habitats are altered due to the changing climate, instinct may guide migrating wildlife to places where they used to find food - only to find that those places are no longer able to provide the essentials for survival.