Millions of migratory birds journey thousands of miles each spring to nest in the wetlands of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge's coastal plain – the same area targeted for oil development by the oil industry, the Bush administration, and certain members of Congress. The birds travel from six continents and every state in the United States.

Over 135 species of waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, raptors and seabirds have been observed on the Coastal Plain of the Arctic refuge. Oil drilling, with its associated roads, pipelines, processing plants, waste dumps, airstrips, and other industrial facilities would disturb these species' nesting and foraging habitats as well as potentially have toxic effects felt in the Arctic Refuge and wherever the birds travel. Of course, any declines of these migratory birds in Alaska would be felt on these birds' wintering grounds and migratory habitat in the rest of the country and beyond. 

Many of these migratory birds not only depend on the Arctic Refuge, but on the entire National Wildlife Refuge System. There is at least one refuge in every state, and most provide resting, foraging, breeding, or wintering habitat for migratory birds.

Read our Birds in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge fact sheet.