Where do the ducks go in the autumn?

Question

Where do the ducks go in the autumn?

Answer 1

Waterfowl (such as ducks and geese)

Migration is a complex behaviour. It’s a journey that requires a great deal of energy and effort to survive. But if it’s such a harrowing experience, why do birds bother to migrate at all? Basically, birds migrate to enjoy the benefits of good habitat conditions all year round. During the spring and summer, they take advantage of conditions in the north that provide abundant food along with good breeding and nesting habitat. Once fall rolls around, they make the arduous journey to enjoy these same types of habitat benefits further to the south.

On the environmental level, the shortening of daylight hours in the fall and the lengthening days in the spring helps cue the birds into migration mode. Temperature changes also mean that wetland habitats are either about to freeze (in autumn) or thaw (in spring), meaning it’s time for the birds to move on. In addition, food and water sources are limited in the fall and may be sparse if the birds return north too early, so the birds need to time their departure carefully.

Generally speaking, migratory birds go where they can find the food and resources they need to survive. Waterfowl, for example, will go to areas that have proven to be rich in resources during past migrations. Unfortunately, the loss of wetlands has reduced the number of habitats available to these birds throughout the season.

Answer 2

Mallards migrate to winter feeding territories as far as Panama, Cuba, and the Bahamas although most stay in the southern Gulf states. The majority of these birds use the central Mississippi River to travel along.

http://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowlGa...

http://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowlGa...

http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=14

The pintail ducks breed in Alaska, Canada and the Dakotas. From there they fly from to warm winter feeding lakes in California, Texas or Mexico.

http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2002/11/field...

Birds follow specific routes to migrate between their breeding and resting territories repeatedly returning to the same locations once the route is learned. They do not leave their nesting area because of the cold exactly. Rather they migrate because there is too little food to support so many birds in the winter. Waterbirds tend to follow routes with plentiful water for them to stop and feed in. The Mississippi Flyway becomes one well used route  from Ontario down to the Gulf of Mexico.

Sea ducks are not as well known so maps are less detailed

http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/bird_deta...

http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/bird_deta...

Answer 3

If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, then the climate is too cold for ducks in winter. They fly south in the Autumn to warmer places. Don't worry, in spring they fly back north, where it is less hot.

Answer 4

South