Human & Animal Migration

HUMAN & ANIMAL MIGRATION THE SEASONAL MOVEMENT TO WARMER CLIMATES Before winter weather closes its grasp on Western Canada each year, millions of residents (of various species) set their sights on warmer climates. People migrate SNOWBIRDS too! Florida, Arizona, California, Texas and Hawaii are the most popular refuges for retirees hoping to escape the snow. Recent legislation has allowed snowbirds to extend their international stays as long as 7 months while still retaining their provincial healthcare coverage. SPARROWS While in Canada, the sturdy-legged Fox Sparrow spends most of its time kicking up leaves in search of insects and seeds, but when cold weather strikes these birds take flight to the Southeastern United States for a winter retreat. Sparrows can reach speeds of up to 50 km per hour! WARBLERS The Townsend Warbler is a small songbird with very particular tastes, preferring to spend its winters along a slim strip of California coastline or a bit closer to the equator in Central America. CANADA GEESE Any Canadian will recognize the distinctive "honk" or call of Canada Geese flying overhead in an impressive "v" formation signaling that winter is fast approaching. As the temperate drops, these noisy neighbours make their presence known as they travel from Canada to the Southern United States. LYNX These felines have good reason to migrate down to the Northern United States in the winter, they are following the footsteps of their primary food source (snowshoe hare). CARIBOU Caribou are known for migrating very long distance between both summer and winter ranges. Certain weather conditions will trigger or stimulate the migration towards winter ranges (usually severe storms). Caribou travel over 965 kilometers in the summer! WHALES While Orca whales brave British Columbian waters year-round, their Grey and Humpback cousins are more likely to seek out warm winter waves off Mexico's Baja Peninsula. in e wikdwhales.org allaboutbirds.org snowbirds.org/seen-months-for-alberta-snowbirds arcticcircle.uconn.edu/ANWR/anwrcaribou.html wikd lifeextracom/go/world/wildlife-canada.htmlacr felineconservation.org/feline_species/canada_lynx.htm softschools.com/facts/animals/sparrow_facts/322/ kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/creaturefeature/caribou/ Westerndirect insurance