On the 14th and 15th May the world celebrates the Migratory Bird Day. This special day was initiated in 2006 and raises awareness on the need to protect migratory birds and their habitats. On the second weekend each May, people around the world take action and organise public events such as bird festivals, education programmes and bird watching excursions.

The theme for this year’s WMBD is “Land use changes from a bird’s-eye view”. It aims to raise awareness on the world’s changing landscapes which affect migratory birds as they interfere with the sites they use during their migratory cycle. Land use change fragments and replaces complex networks of habitats for example Deforestation and mineral extraction can damage entire regions used along the birds’ annual migration paths. Land reclamation and biofuel production remove or degrade crucial wetlands and other habitats for many migratory bird species.

If you are planning any activity for this special day register your event on the WMBD website. Also available in downloadable form are posters and other material.