World Migratory Bird Day
The Second Weekends of May and October are events observed twice each year as World Migratory Bird Day to focus world attention on the need to protect migratory bird populations, their habitats, and their international flyways.
Through exchanges of information from people within and between the world’s flyways, we can communicate and learn from each other, across borders, within and between the world’s major flyways to increase the level of awareness about the threats that birds are facing.
This year’s theme “Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter!” engages participants to stop and observe birds as they migrate – in flight or resting, refuelling at stopovers from wintering location to their nesting HQ.
When thousands of people record their bird sightings over many years during community science programs for bird observation, scientists can see clearer patterns about the numbers and conditions of migrating avian species.
Migrating birds connect us with their journeys. Their survival often depends on the action each of us makes in taking a step to help them travel or feed safely, however small it might seem. These add up when we work together.
Birds add irreplaceable value to our natural environment and that is why the Roberta Bondar Foundation is working to raise awareness about the threats facing our precious birds, and to advocate for their more hopeful future. Here’s how the Space Station images help trace bird migrations in Dr Bondar’s Space for Birds | AMASS research project:
Dr Bondar’s book Space for Birds ~ Patterns and Parallels of Beauty and Flight is available here.
You up for World Migratory Bird Day Quizzes?
Right here!
Migratory birds fly distances that seem unbelievable to earth-bound human beings. For example, from its summering to its wintering grounds, the Bar-tailed Godwit flies 11,000 km over little more than 8 days without stopping.
For a cheeky Bar-tailed Godwit’s point-of-view — here’s an Australian ‘interview’ with a Bar-tailed Godwit about to make his return flight from Australia to Alaska…
B Bondar