BirdLife International Celebrates World Migratory Bird Day!
All over the world, billions of birds are undergoing a feat of endurance that we can only wonder at. This World Migratory Bird Day we will follow the stories of migrating birds overcoming a multitude of threats and the people who dedicate their lives to protecting them.
Soaring across migration routes called flyways, like super highways in the sky, birds are leaving their wintering grounds and traversing continents for better climates, food, and places to breed. At BirdLife International, our aim is to protect birds wherever they go, which is why we will be celebrating this World Migratory Bird Day with conservation stories from all over the world!
From our youth leaders sharing their favourite migrating birds, to the communities along the East Asian Australasian Flyway who protect them. Bird migration connects us all, and that is cause for celebration and hope that we can save nature by working together.
You can get involved this World Migratory Bird Day! Join Global Big Day, where people all over the world go birdwatching and upload sightings to eBird. This information gives us crucial insight into the health of bird populations which ultimately tells us about the state of the planet.
Birds don’t have borders and neither does our Conservation work. The BirdLife Partnership is dedicated to protecting the flyways. Read below to find out how!
African-Eurasian Flyway
Flying from Southern Africa all the way to Northern Europe every spring, beautiful birds such as the Swift, Swallow, Honey-Buzzard and White Stork migrate along the African-Eurasian flyway.
Hunting, collisions and habitat loss are just a few of the threats facing birds on this journey as illustrated by this White Storks flight for survival.
Birds have the right to thrive on this planet, just like every other living being. They are an endless source of inspiration, joy and an integral part of our culture and society. Let’s join Lukáš Brezniak at the Czech Society for Ornithology in swapping guns for binoculars and enjoying the beauty of migration!
World Migratory Bird Day Youth Leaders Eurasian Woodcock © Lukáš Brezniak
Americas Flyways
The Buff-breasted Sandpiper is a mighty little migrant that depends on America’s Flyways. Breeding as far north as Alaska, this long-distance migrant spends its non-breeding season as far south as Argentina.
But this small shorebird is facing a steep decline in population. The Buff-breasted Sandpiper once numbered in the hundreds of thousands is trying to survive through habitat destruction and hunting, having brought the species to near extinction in the early 1920s.
You can make a difference and save this charismatic little bird!
Buff-breasted Sandpiper © Rita Flores Wiskowski
East Asian Australasian Flyway
The East Asian Australasian Flyway is one of the largest, most species rich flyway in the world!
BirdLife International is uniquely placed to protect the flyways with our global partnership working on the ground to protect birds in over 115 countries.
We must work together to save birds. Generously funded by the Asian Development Bank, here on the East Asian Australasian Flyway, the BirdLife Partners work closely with local communities to inspire others to care about birds and look after them.
Working with Communities Along the East-Asian Australasian Flyway.
Central Asian Flyway
Meet Megha! Megha is a champion satellite tagged Heuglin’s Gull and his third trip to Arctic had just begun along the Central Asian Flyway.
Megha is one of our most impressive satellite tagged birds, collecting data for the 757th consecutive day by today, which is the longest period of transmission by any bird.
After a rejuvenating three-day respite along the familiar Gujarat Coast, Megha finally departed the Indian Ocean on May 8th. From here on his journey to meet the Arctic Ocean, he will traverse the vast continent of Asia.
Megha’s migration journey © Gayomini Panagoda
We need birds and birds need us!
There are thousands of flyway stories that connect people and birds to the natural wonder that is migration. As the nature and climate crisis threatens our planet, we need to listen to what the birds are telling us. By protecting birds we protect all life.
Get involved this World Migratory Bird Day by joining the big Global Bird Count! Your data gives us crucial insight into the health of bird populations which ultimately tells us about the state of the planet.