U.S. Geological Survey – The migrations of most birds comprise time spent in flight interspersed with time spent on the ground, and migratory birds provide ecosystem benefits that include pest control, pollination of plants and serve as food sources for other wildlife.
Most migratory flight occurs at night; most resting and refueling between flights – called stopover – occurs during the day. Not only are these birds participating in the control of insect populations, they are also showing us what habitats are important to them.
