World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD)
aims to inspire people to take action for the conservation
of migratory birds and encourages national authorities,
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), clubs and societies,
universities, schools and individuals around the world to
organize events and programmes, which help draw attention
to migratory birds around a central theme each year.
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This year’s theme is “Save migratory
birds in crisis – every species counts!”
It is closely linked to the International Year of Biodiversity
(IYB)
declared by the United Nations for 2010.
The WMBD 2010 theme aims to
raise awareness on globally threatened migratory birds,
with a particular focus on those on the very edge of extinction
– the Critically Endangered migratory birds. In line
with the International Year of Biodiversity, the 2010 WMBD
theme also highlights how migratory birds are part of the
biological diversity of our world and how the threat of
extinction faced by individual bird species is a reflection
of the larger extinction crisis threatening other species
and the natural diversity that underpins all life on earth.
Migratory birds in crisis
A staggering 1,227, or 12,4% of the total
9,865 extant bird species in the world are currently classified
as globally threatened and 192 of these are considered Critically
Endangered on the IUCN Red List of threatened species, i.e.
they face an extremely high risk of becoming extinct.
An estimated 19% of all known birds and
about 30 of the 192 Critically Endangered bird species are
considered to be migratory and undertake regular cyclical
movements between their breeding and non-breeding areas.
Some prominent examples of “migratory
birds in crisis” being highlighted in the context
of this year’s WMBD campaign include the Slender-billed
Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris), the Northern Bald
Ibis (Geronticus eremita), the Sociable Lapwing
(Vanellus gregarius), the Waved Albatross (Phoebastria
irrorata) and the Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema
chrysogaster) – all of which are migratory and
listed as Critically Endangered.
Migratory birds as indicators
By focusing on “migratory birds in
crisis” during the International Year of Biodiversity,
World Migratory Bird Day 2010 is also highlighting the role
played by birds as indicators, enabling us to clearly see
and highlight the negative effects our current way of life
is having on the planet and it’s biodiversity.
As one of the best researched taxa, birds
serve as vital indicators for the state of biodiversity
and the biological health of the ecosystems they inhabit.
If a bird species becomes threatened with extinction it
is often a clear sign that the conditions of the required
habitats have changed and that other species that depend
on them may also be affected.
Migratory birds rely on several different
habitats to survive – often across several continents.
They need areas to breed, rest, feed and to raise their
young. The conservation of migratory birds depends to a
large extent on the conservation of their habitats, thereby
simultaneously benefiting other species.
WMBD 2010 during the International Year of Biodiversity
The International Year of Biodiversity (IYB),
declared by the General Assembly of the United Nations for
the year 2010, is an appreciation of the value of biodiversity
and the vital role it plays in all our lives. However, it
is not only a celebration, but also an invitation to take
action to safeguard the variety of life on earth. Humankind
relies on this diversity, because it provides us with food,
fuel, medicine and other essentials which we need to survive.
Yet species are disappearing at an unprecedented
rate because of human activities, amongst other threats,
and these losses are irreversible. In fact, the current
rate of extinction is a thousand times faster than the natural
one. For birds, the natural rate of extinction is one bird
per century, but in the last thirty years alone, 21 bird
species have become extinct. Without immediate action, many
of the “migratory birds in crisis” will no longer
exist in ten year’s time.
World
Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) 2010 is an opportunity
to take action and to draw international attention to those
migratory birds which are threatened by extinction and to
highlight them as flagship species during the International
Year of Biodiversity.
Further Information:
World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD)
World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is a global
initiative devoted to celebrating migratory birds and for
promoting their conservation worldwide. It is being organised
by the Secretariats of the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird
Agreement (AEWA) and the Convention on Migratory Species
(CMS) – two international wildlife treaties administered
by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) –
and other partners.
People and dedicated organisations around
the world will be using the event to draw attention to migratory
birds that are threatened by extinction. Activities to mark
WMBD include bird festivals and bird watching trips, public
discussions, exhibitions, presentations, bird rallies and
other educational and public events.
Event organizers are encouraged to register their events
on the WMBD website and can order the WMBD 2010 poster and
other information materials to support their events by writing
to: contact@worldmigratorybirdday.org
For more information please visit:
www.worldmigratorybirdday.org
WMBD Partners:
United Nations
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The United Nations
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Convention
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African-Eurasian
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BirdLife
International is a global partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity. BirdLife International has long been committed to the conservation of migratory birds and the habitats upon which they depend. The BirdLife Partnership is engaged in migratory bird conservation at numerous scales, from projects focused on individual species or key sites, to broader policy and advocacy work to promote migratory species conservation, and involvement in flyway-scale projects. |
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Wetlands
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The
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Last updated on 16 June 2014