World Migratory Bird Day

World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is a global initiative devoted to celebrating the beauty of migrating birds and for promoting their conservation worldwide. This year WMBD will take place on the weekend of 10-11 May

Climate change has severe consequences for the nomads of the skies: it causes the loss of essential bird habitats, changes migration patterns and increases the competition for food between migrating birds and residents. The goal of WMBD 2007 was to try to focus world attention on the plight of migratory birds and to highlight the way they are being affected by climate change in the same way as all living things.

The theme for this year’s celebration is Migratory Birds - Ambassadors for Biodiversity.

Birds are some of the best indicators for the status and trends of wider biodiversity. They are important for monitoring changes in the environment, as they are inhabitants of virtually all ecosystems in the world.

Many sites - identified as important for birds - host numerous other threatened species of plants and animals. Therefore areas essential for birds represent hot spots for other biodiversity as well.

All through their annual cycle, migratory birds cross many countries and continents, some of them from the tundra to the tropics, linking different ecosystems. By conserving them and their environment we ensure the conservation of biodiversity on a wider scale.


To become a truly global initiative, WMBD needs the support of bird enthusiasts around the world: Take action! Organise activities on 10-11 May that are linked to birds and encourage bird conservation, increase awareness through bird watching excursions, bird rallies, educational programmes or public events.

So what do you plan to do? will you be watcing the birds?

source:http://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/