North Dakota Birds Stay Behind During Winter Migration

As the autumn chill settles across North Dakota, many birds are beginning their seasonal migration, though many will stay in the state for the winter, KFYR reported.

While the instinct to fly south is common, migration patterns vary by species. According to North Dakota Game and Fish, while some waterfowl move toward states like Texas, Missouri, and Kansas, others follow entirely different routes.

Tundra swans passing through the region may travel east toward the Atlantic coast rather than heading south. Even common species like mallards and Canada geese participate in migration, but a subset of these populations stays behind to endure the local winter.

The ability of certain birds to survive the North Dakota winter depends heavily on their access to liquid water. Without open water, these species cannot access the food sources necessary to sustain them through the freezing months.

Birds coraciiformes kingfishers bismarck kingfisher

The Missouri River in Bismarck serves as a critical sanctuary for several species that do not migrate. These birds are described as hardy enough to withstand the regional climate, provided their habitat remains accessible.

“Those are pretty hardy birds that can kind of withstand, you know, the cold winters that we have. But they need to have open water to be able to do so. And so the Missouri River here in Bismarck is kind of their sanctuary for some of those species,” said John Palarski, Migratory Game Bird Management Supervisor.

To monitor these populations, North Dakota Game and Fish conducts a midwinter waterfowl survey every January. This data allows officials to track exactly how many birds are spending the season within the state’s borders.

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