No matter where you fall on pumpkin spice, autumn has some universal hallmarks: cooler temperatures, leaves turning colors and sunsets arriving earlier and earlier. And across the U.S., fall is also the start of migration for many wildlife, triggering the move southward to warmer climates. During their trip, species like the monarch butterfly use of prairie patches in the Midwest on their way to wintering grounds in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. This month thousands of migratory birds will also begin their journey to warmer climates in southern states, using wetlands, marshes, beaches and forests along the way. These stopping grounds, though not used year-round, are essential to the survival of migratory species. Read more about the importance of habitats here.