Wednesday, April 27, 2016

IMBD 2016: Spread Your Wings for Bird Conservation

"Spread Your Wings for Bird Conservation" is the theme for International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) 2016.

Through many events held throughout the Americas, IMBD celebrations will explore how birds have inspired some of the most significant environmental conservation actions. For generations, migratory birds have connected communities across continents, providing unique opportunities for international collaboration and inspiring people to improve conditions for birds, all wildlife, and for ourselves.

IMBD is celebrated on different dates across the Western Hemisphere. Events take place year-round, though most occur around the "traditional" date on the second Saturday in May (May 14, 2016) or in October in Latin America and the Caribbean.

National and international cooperation is an essential step toward safeguarding the world's migratory birds, whose long-distance flights often cross political borders, exposing them to widely varying conservation philosophies and laws. "This year's International Migratory Bird Day is a celebration of the capacity of individuals to compel world leaders to prioritize migratory bird conservation," says Dr. Susan Bonfield1, Executive Director of Environment for the Americas. "Collaboration and a commitment to actions that protect migratory birds along their entire flyways, and throughout their lifecycles, are crucial to safeguarding migratory populations."

This year's theme celebrates the capacity of citizens of every country to support programs and laws that safeguard birds and their habitats, including a landmark treaty that has protected nearly all migratory bird species in the U.S. and Canada for the last century. By working together towards this common cause, we hope to initiate another century of bird conservation.

Although IMBD is traditionally celebrated in Canada and the U.S. on the second Saturday in May (May 14, 2016), in reality every day is bird day, and programs, festivals, and other events occur throughout the year, when it works best for organizers—and for the birds.

Ultimately, the goal of IMBD is to connect people to nature through birds, no matter when that is, and to help people understand the importance of bird conservation.

Participants at more than 700 locations from Argentina to Canada and the Caribbean will learn how laws, regulations, treaties, and other protections benefit migratory birds, the symbolic harbingers of the seasons. Many of these events will include habitat restoration activities, educational presentations highlighting the theme, bird walks, and creative art activities.

Now in its 26th year, IMBD has grown from a one-day event into a framework underpinning hundreds of projects and programs year-round. IMBD is coordinated by Environment for the Americas, which provides bilingual educational materials and information about birds and bird conservation throughout the Americas. Their programs inspire children and adults to get outdoors, learn about birds, and take part in their conservation.

To celebrate IMBD, local organizers across the Western Hemisphere host festivals, school programs, and bird walks. Events take place at diverse locations, including zoos,

To learn more about migratory bird conservation and to share information about the topic, download IMBD educational and promotional materials in Spanish and English and search for activities planned in your area at http://www.migratorybirdday.org/.