Pacific Flyway Conservation

At least a billion birds migrate through the Sacramento region annually. These birds follow a yearly migration pattern that stretches from the Arctic tundra to South America. They migrate within a region called the Pacific Flyway. The birds of the Pacific Flyway depend on a diverse chain of habitats, from the U.S., Canadian, and Siberian arctic tundra and south to the mangrove forest wetlands of Mexico and rainforest of South America. Audubon’s network of chapters, volunteers, activists, and members are preserving and restoring vital links throughout the Pacific Flyway. Each year, these birds travel the Pacific Flyway on their annual north-south migration in the Fall and south-north migration in the Spring. Along the way, they need stopover sites with suitable habitat and food so that they can rest and refuel. In California, 90 percent of historic wetlands have been lost, and continuing habitat loss, water shortages, changing agricultural practices, and climate change all impact bird populations within the Pacific Flyway.

The Central Valley is the most important wintering waterfowl area in the Pacific Flyway, supporting about 60 percent of the waterfowl within the Pacific Flyway. In the Sacramento Valley, rice fields and managed wetlands on both public and private lands provide important habitat and food for wintering and migrating waterfowl.

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Marsh include the largest estuary on the West Coast and the largest remaining wetland area in the state. It supports more than 250 species of migratory birds, including hundreds of thousands of migrating and wintering ducks and geese, and regularly supports as much as 15 percent of the waterfowl in the Pacific Flyway.

California is unique among important North American wintering waterfowl areas, in that 60-70% of the Mallard, Gadwall, and Cinnamon Teal that winter in California also breed in California.

The Central Valley is also important wintering and migratory habitat for shorebirds. Portions of the Central Valley have been recognized as internationally important sites for conservation, largely based on the amount and diversity of shorebirds using these wetland habitats during migration.  

Central Valley Joint Venture

Audubon sits on the Central Valley Joint Venture Management Board and works with partners to conserve bird habitats across the Central Valley. The Central Valley Joint Venture (CVJV) is a self-directed coalition consisting of 20 State and Federal agencies, private conservation organizations and one corporation. This partnership directs their efforts toward the common goal of providing for the habitat needs of migratory and resident birds in the Central Valley of California.

In 2020, the CVJV updated its Implementation Plan which incorporates new information and a broader scope of conservation activities that include objectives for shorebirds, waterbirds, grassland birds, oak woodland birds, and riparian landbirds. For more information regarding the Central Valley Joint Venture and their Implementation plan, please visit their website.

Banner Photo Credit: Tundra Swan by Daniel Lee Brown