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From molecules to ecosystems, and headwaters to ocean

ConservationEdu@tpwd.texas.gov
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Short Stories about Aquatic Science

Visit the Texas coast to see waterfowl and neotopical birds

Home Aquatic Science CurriculumProjectsTexas’ great winged migrations

Texas’ great winged migrations

Texas coast wetlands serve as the key wintering ground for millions of North American waterfowl during their annual migrations.

Waterfowl migration, an image of migratory birds part of the great winged migrations of wildlife along the Texas coast, an illustration in the book Aquatic Science by author Rudolph Rosen. Photo credit: Texas Parks and WildlifePhoto credit: Texas Parks and Wildlife

Texas’ estuaries, wetlands, and coastal islands sit at the crossroads of one of the greatest annual migrations of wildlife anywhere in the world. Africa has its great migrations of hooved animals that cross the continent’s vast plains. Here in America we have great winged migrations. These consist of millions of waterfowl, wading and shore birds, and neotropical migratory birds.

The Texas coast is where millions of neotropical migratory birds make first landfall after long distance flights across the Gulf between North and South America. In fowl weather the birds may arrive totally exhausted, looking for a place to land, rest, and feed. They regain energy for continued flight.

Texas coastal wetlands also serve as the key wintering ground for millions of North American waterfowl. In early Spring, these birds fly thousands of miles north of Texas to lay their eggs and raise ducklings in the summer. They go to northern states, Canada and even the arctic. When it starts getting cold in early fall the young are ready to fly. The adults along with the young birds return south, to Texas where they feed all winter long. Coastal Texas is one of the most important staging, wintering, and breeding areas for waterfowl and other migratory birds on Earth.

Each year, thousands of bird watchers come to see these great migrations. Almost 500 bird species have been seen in the Lower Coast alone. You can see the birds, too. Visit a Texas Wildlife Management Area, the World Birding Center, National Wildlife Refuge, or any one of the many local parks and nature centers on the coast.

 

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Texas Aquatic Science is a cooperative education project sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife, The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University. Additional project support came from the Ewing Halsell Foundation and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Sport Fish Restoration Program. Rudolph Rosen, Ph.D. wrote and edited the Texas Aquatic Science textbook. Videos were produced by Randall Maxwell. Sandra Johnson, Ph.D. served as educational consultant and authored the accompanying Teacher’s Guide.

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With financial support from the Ewing Halsell Foundation and the Sport Fish Restoration Program, Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior


 
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© 2012-2023 · Texas Aquatic Science Website by Rudolph Rosen, Ph.D.
© 2013 · Texas Aquatic Science Textbook and Teacher's Guide by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, Texas State University, and; The Hart Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

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