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 APP’s conservation investments in order to protect, restore and manage key habitat and also mitigate threats along full migratory pathways for these species.

APP 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 APP 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 APP 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 APP'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, APP

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 APP depends on your support to do the conservation work that we do.
Philadelphia Sees Largest Mass Collision Event in the City in 70 Years
October 27, 2020 — Reflecting on the “gruesome and overwhelming” day, experts remain hopeful that the event will inspire action for bird-friendly communities.
Ask Kenn: Do More Birds Migrate Through the Eastern United States?
October 15, 2020 — In this month's Ask Kenn!, bird expert Kenn Kaufman provides a detailed look at how geography shapes the routes of migratory birds.
What You Need to Know About the Migratory Bird Initiative
September 22, 2020 — APP outreach biologists Mikko Jimenez and Chad Witko discuss this ambitious project to protect birds along their full migratory journeys.
It's Summer, and That Means Fall Migration is Already Underway
July 10, 2020 — For some migratory birds, "fall" is more of a guideline than a rule.
Building Collisions Are a Greater Danger for Some Birds Than Others
July 09, 2020 — Migratory species that zip through the woods for insects are more likely to crash, researchers find—a vulnerability that may be speeding their decline.
The First Half of 2020 Included Some Good News for Birds
July 02, 2020 — From coast to coast, bird conservationists reported these remarkable migration success stories.
Grisly Report Raises Questions About the Cruise Industry's Impact on Migrating Birds
May 28, 2020 — Lights on ships can lure birds to their deaths, but nearly a decade after a call for more research, the scale of the problem is anyone's guess.
These Mighty Birds Connect People Across the Pacific Ocean Every Year
May 21, 2020 — Some of the most impressive bird migrations shrink the distance across our largest ocean.
Vermont Teens Draw Climate Solace from Drawing Birds
May 21, 2020 — Students at Brattleboro Union High School use art to channel both their APP grief and love for birds.
How Scientists Learned About The Blackpoll Warbler's Epic Migration
May 08, 2020 — Tiny, high-tech backpacks help us protect these songbirds throughout their full migratory cycle.
Featured Migratory Birds in APP 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