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SatMay 11

World Migratory Bird Day – May 11, 2024

Time to un-ruffle your feathers because May 11 is World Migratory Bird Day! At least 4,000 different species of birds migrate, which adds up to about 40% of the entire avian population. And they all do it in pursuit of food. Twice every year, these birds will fly to warmer climates for the winters, and then return home to breed. As humans, we can all appreciate the value of following food all around the globe. Let’s celebrate our feathered friends today!

World Migratory Bird Day timeline

2006
World Migratory Bird Day

The initiative is created by the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) in collaboration with the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).

October 26, 2017
Joining Forces

CMS, AEWA, and Environment for the Americas (EFTA) merge two of the largest bird education campaigns — International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) and World Migratory Bird Day.

2018
Better Together

The joint campaign is celebrated as World Migratory Bird Day twice a year in May and October.

2019
WMBD Theme

The theme for WMBD is ‘Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution!’

World Migratory Bird Day Activities

  1. Go on a nature walk

    Get in touch with your local ecosystem and see what birds frequent your area. See if you can spot which birds are native to the area, and which are visitors from far-off places. When the seasons chance, see if you can spot which species leave, and which ones arrive to take their place. For bonus points, you can keep a journal and see how things change from year to year.

  2. Get involved with the Audubon Society

    The Audubon Society is dedicated to the conservation, health, and welfare of all different kinds of birds. There are about 500 local chapters nationwide, and each one is fighting the battle to save the birds on several different fronts at once. Find the one nearest to you, and see how you can help our feathered friends thrive, whether by donating your money or your time.

  3. Set up bird feeders

    You could go and find nature on World Migratory Bird Day, or you can bring nature to you. Putting feeders outside your house will attract all kinds of local birds looking for something to nosh. You can put out as many different kinds of food as you like—even sugar water for hummingbirds! Just make sure the local squirrels and cats don’t come along to spoil the fun.

Why We Love World Migratory Bird Day

  1. Birds are amazing animals

    They're miracles of evolution. They are close relatives of dinosaurs, they are the only creatures on the planet to grow feathers, and—of course—they can fly. That last one has caused birds to be the envy of humans for nearly the entire span of their mutual existence. Who wouldn’t like to spread their own wings and take to the skies on World Migratory Bird Day?

  2. Migration takes a huge amount of energy

    Migration itself is a genetically controlled impulse. It’s a primitive trait that even emerges in birds that don’t necessarily have to migrate. The ability for birds to navigate and orient themselves during migration is an even more complex phenomenon. Not to mention, birds need to alter their metabolism in order to store enough energy to make the journey, and molt their feathers in preparation for the wear and tear of the long flight.

  3. Migration also helps other species

    The migration of birds helps control pest populations in whatever part of the world they happen to visit, and certain smaller species also aid in flower pollination, while the larger scavengers help to eliminate carrion waste. In addition, their droppings also provide rich nutrients which help plants to grow.

World Migratory Bird Day dates

YearDateDay
2021May 8Saturday
2022May 14Saturday
2023May 13Saturday
2024May 11Saturday
2025May 10Saturday

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